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Laying Down the GATT

Motorists are in for a smoother ride thanks to an innovative new seal for unsealed roads that is currently being trialled by Bass Coast Shire Council

By Carol McCormack - 25th May 2001 - Back to News

Picture sent via email: Council’s Roads Team Leader, Fred Huitema, at the site of an innovative road seal project at Harmers Haven. Motorists are in for a smoother ride thanks to an innovative new seal for unsealed roads that is currently being trialled by Bass Coast Shire Council. "Graded Aggregate Total Treatment" (GATT) is a seal that is suitable for unsealed roads with low traffic volume. GATT has been developed by Boral and includes a mix of bitumen and stone. GATT’s durability eliminates the need for regular maintenance of these roads. Bass Coast Shire Council is trialling GATT on a section of Berry’s Road in Harmers Haven. Mr. Fred Huitema, Team Leader of Council’s Roads Team, said that the objective of the trial is to reduce the maintenance costs of gravel roads while improving the surface condition to a standard similar to conventional sealed roads. "A single application of GATT is expected to last five to six years and a double application is expected to last between ten and twelve years," said Mr. Huitema. "Council has treated 800 metres of Berry’s Road with a single application and 200 metres with a double application." Mr. Huitema said that similar treatments of GATT overseas have been in place for more than 12 years and are still in reasonable condition. "GATT treatments not only reduce the cost of maintenance but also eliminates dust and improve safety," said Mr. Huitema. "Gravel loss due to dust and erosion is reduced which eliminates the need to resheet. "Motorists also benefit from a smoother ride if a road has a GATT treatment," he said. A conventional road seal requires placing at least 30 to 40 cm of high quality material on the road before even starting to seal it. In many cases, GATT can be placed over existing gravel roads if there is enough pavement depth. GATT can also be laid in conjunction with a resheet to the road. If the GATT trial on Berry’s road is successful, Council may extend GATT to some of the Shire’s other unsealed road.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: basscoastshire@gippslander.com

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