Has anyone used chippings for heavy equiptment
to drive on at a development site with clay soil?

Reply to post by Ken, on November 17, 1998 at 19:46:55:

Have used it on one occasion, Ken. It was put down about 10 or 12 inches deep. The problem is the surface it is put on- If it is wet or pliable, the mulch will just get compressed into the soil. We found out that putting a layer of Typar construction fabric down first, the load is distributed better, and you get a lot less rutting.

Reply to post by Russ Carlson, on November 17, 1998 at 19:46:55:

There is also stuff in the literature about using Typar or one of the other geotextile fabrics for the same reason (to prevent infiltration) under temporary or semi-permanent trafficways made of crushed agregates which accomodate heavier traffic than the chips.

Another application suggests that a 'sandwich' of angular aggregate between layers of geotextile creates a loadspreading layer which avoids compaction of the existing soils while meeting loadbearing compaction requirements. One of the issues seems to be whether the engineer will spec removal of the softest surface material first which may defeat the purpose.

I think the source is Steve Clark in TN and may have been in some of the American Forests / NAHB materials. I think National Arbor Day Foundation is now involved with NAHB.

Should note that landscape fabrics are the lightest grade geotextiles. Heavier grades are tougher and carry higher loads.

Reply to post by Scott Cullen, on November 17, 1998 at 22:22:12:

Thanks Russ and Scott for the timely responce.
The area we want to put the chippings is where the street will be going in.Thanks again, Ken

Reply to post by Ken, on November 18, 1998 at 06:13:31:

Ken, if the area is to be a permanent street after the project rather than a temporary accessway during the construction period, you need to find out the specifications for the finished street. Compaction, depth of base, finished grade(s), etc. If the root area you want to protect with chips will be excavated or heavily compacted in the end the chipping may not be useful. You'll need to make judgments about the trees' long term chances. They might need to be removed. Or, you might be better off root pruning to within a permanent protection area and concentrating on fostering new root growth within it.

Engineered roadways to protect root areas beneath are sometimes possible but are expensive to design and install and the trees have to be worth it.

Reply to post by Ken, on November 17, 1998 at 19:46:55:

Track down a forest engineer or road engineer with experience in geotextile work. It is commonly used to build roads over wet areas, including deep mucks out in the forest. There area wide range of geotextile options, designed to deal with most situations. you need to get the right one for your situation. Check out "geotextile " on the web and contact a local dealer who can then put you intouch with the right folks. It's use here in British Columbia is standard and commonplace.

Cheers

Julian Dunster