GRAVEL STABILIZED SHOULDERS FOR TURF AS USED ON THE NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY
THREE SECTIONS OF THE PARKWAY, WHICH EXTENDS FROM NATCHEZ TO NASHVILLE, WERE CHOSEN FOR GRAVEL- STABILIZED TURF SHOULDERS. THE FIRST, EXTENDED 34 MILES NORTHEAST OF NATCHEZ, WAS CHARACTERIZED BY CONSIDERABLE GRAVEL IN THE ROADBED MATERIAL; THE CLIMATE IS CONTINENTAL. THE SECOND, 15 MILES LONG THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF ALABAMA, EXHIBITS UNCONSOLIDATED CLAYS WITH OCCASIONAL SANDS, SO THAT GRAVEL HAD TO BE IMPORTED; THE CLIMATE IS ONE OF SHORT, MILD WINTERS AND LONG, HOT SUMMERS. THE THIRD, 12 MILES LONG AT THE ALABAMA--TENNESSE BORDER, HAD LOESS SOIL AND UNCONSOLIDATED SAND, GRAVEL, AND CLAY; THE CLIMATE IS TEMPERATE AND HUMID. ALL THREE AREAS GET ABOUT 50 INCHES OF RAIN ANNUALLY. TRAFFIC IS RESTRICTED TO AUTOMOBILES. THE SPECIFICATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION PHASES ARE DESCRIBED. CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHOULDERS WAS COMPLETED IN THE LATE AUTUMN, AND PLANTING WAS DELAYED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING SPRING. THE TYPES OF GRASSES AND THE PLANTING PROCEDURE ARE DESCRIBED. COSTS ARE ITEMIZED BY CATEGORY. TESTS AT UP TO 60 MPH ON THE SHOULDERS FOLLOWING SATURATING RAINS HAVE SHOWN THE TURF TO WITHSTAND THE WHEEL LOADS WITHOUT RUTTING.
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Supplemental Notes:
- No 613, pp 3-13, 2 FIG, 1 TAB, 9 PHOT. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
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Authors:
- Buchanan, C H
- Iurka, H H
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Discussers:
- Slack, T
- Publication Date: 1958
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
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Serial:
- Highway Research Board Roadside Development Committee Reports
- Publisher: Highway Research Board
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Clay; Climate; Gravel; Loess; Road shoulders; Sand; Soil compaction; Soil stabilization; Turf
- Identifier Terms: Natchez Trace Parkway
- Old TRIS Terms: Loess soils; Shoulder stabilization
- Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00205110
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS, TRB
- Created Date: Nov 22 1971 12:00AM