Local Government Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan has pledged to work with Trinidad Cement Limited to use its latest innovative process of soil cement stabilisation to rehabilitate landslip-prone roads.
Rambachan, who was on hand for TCL's launch of its new alternative use of cement initiative in Mayo on Tuesday, said the process would be useful in providing stability along damaged roads and alleviating landslips around T&T. The process involves the use of premium cement, mixed with aggregate, water and asphalt dug up from the road to be rehabilitated.
The new process, he said, would be useful in various applications of road construction and rehabilitation. Rambachan said he was excited by the prospects of using TCL's new initiative to repair roads under his ministry. He added: "I think we are looking at something that is very innovative and we are looking at something that is of great value, especially when we do a proper cost benefit analysis as we are using this type of technology as against the traditional type of technology.
"We at local government are prepared to begin to try this technology and partner with Trinidad Cement Limited in this regard." TCL?Group civil engineer Avaleen Mooloo said practical application of the process did not involve the use of specialised equipment or additional manpower.
She said the use of soil cement stabilisation would help reduce costs for road construction by 35 per cent and would promote longevity and durability. Mooloo said the process would be ideal for agricultural roads. The company demonstrated the strength of its soil cement stabilisation process on a paved 50-metre roadway into its Mayo quarry.
Two six-tonne trucks, one which was loaded, drove over the road, which had a thin layer of bitumen, with minimal movement of the base. She said normally the road would have to be paved every other day because of breakage. However with the soil cement stabilisation the road held firm.
The process, she said, could be completed in one day and the road could be used by motorists within 24 hours. Rambachan said he was impressed by the demonstration as the road did not "flex". It was a significant development," he added. TCL?general manager Satnarine Bachew said the soil cement stabilisation was an innovative way of using cement to bring greater value.
He added: "We have been experimenting with this for some time and it is an alternative use where you use cement with aggregate as a base in a sub-base preparation." He said better compressive strength would be achieved at a much lower cost.