DUSTY SHINGLE ROAD.

We live down a shingled country road which has become more used by traffic for some reason.
We have been told that in order to keep the dust down, it has been known that some farmers in the North Island in similar circumstances, have spread ordinary powdered lime and then watered this in. This apparently works very well, producing a concrete-like surface and no dust for a very long time.
The problem is, that no-one seems to know how deep the lime should be spread. Can anyone help please?
Or, other than used oil, is there anything else which I can use which won't be objected to by Environment Canterbury please?
Thank you.

ask ECAN

They have no suggestions at all according to the young lad whom I asked.

This here is a paper from the former Rodney District Council (North Auckland-Northland) that covers road dust supression techniques and products.

This here is t he options the Northland District Council offers to communities affected by dusty roads - scroll down the bottom to see products and contractors who supply them.

This is more information about the product they mention, Dustex - I'm afraid I can't find the NZ supplier for it as company with the same name here is a dust extraction business in Auckland.

There is this product called Durasoil

There is this product called SCI Dust Control

Make lots of pot-holes in the road so that the traffic slows down . Some might even look for a smoother road to use.

let some dairy cows walk the length of the road ..that keeps the dust down and the cars slow down as well. [}]

We live down a dusty shingle road too. Getting hacked off at the Council because during the four years we have lived here, the population of our road has doubled, but the road maintenance has remained the same - barely enough. We get dangerous rutting on corners that has your car jumping in all directions even at 20km/hr. Summer we get the dust, winter we get an ice skating rink (wet clay).

But then again, if the road gets tarsealed, it's going to attract boy racers looking for a quiet back road. I don't know what would be best.

thank goodness I got the house put 300 metres down the drive way because the dust cloud from my gravel road just billows over the alternative house site all summer... all I can suggest is plant a lot of trees along your fenceline to try to stop the dust... not a nice situation to be in.. I'm so glad I'm far enough away not to be bothered..

I've seen waste oil used to good effect, although I have no idea if that is acceptable in this day and age. I'd be worried that lime will cause vehicles to rust. When road works is carried out and they use lime for the base, they always put up big warning signs to wash your car when you get home.

Stikkibeek;398118 wrote: I've seen waste oil used to good effect, although I have no idea if that is acceptable in this day and age. I'd be worried that lime will cause vehicles to rust. When road works is carried out and they use lime for the base, they always put up big warning signs to wash your car when you get home.

This was the best method of the lot but is now unfortunately a PC no-no:rolleyes:

Doug, lime on roads will be no better than your shingle so welcome to the world of rural living. All the roads in the Far North are lime rock. It gets spread, rolled, watered, rolled again and it's great .... until it dries out - then there is dust like nothing you have ever seen. Lime will set like concrete and is great for yards, cattle races, laneways etc. but no better than anything else when it comes to the constant flow of vehicles. Nor, as Stikkibeak mentioned, is it good for said vehicles.

Cheers,
Ronnie

Many thanks to all who replied. When we arrived here, 33 years ago, our road was not much more than a dirt track and the house was already built beside said road unfortunately.
Pumpkingirl, I am doing research to see if I can locate those products locally.
It's a bit unfortunate for us that our area is now being heavily populated, but that's progress I guess. The Selwyn District Council told me when I applied some 25 years ago to have our road sealed, with one sentence: "Not in your lifetime."

Doug;398476 wrote:
It's a bit unfortunate for us that our area is now being heavily populated, but that's progress I guess. The Selwyn District Council told me when I applied some 25 years ago to have our road sealed, with one sentence: "Not in your lifetime."

Perhaps with a higher population in the area it is time to write to the council again.

Is used cooking oil an option? It seems to me that it would not have the risks that waste engine oil does, but it may have its own hazards.:confused:
If it doesn't, it may be worth contacting someone in the fast food industry to see whether you can get a sufficient amount.

Doug;398476 wrote: The Selwyn District Council told me when I applied some 25 years ago to have our road sealed, with one sentence: "Not in your lifetime."

I was told a few years ago that when traffic numbers reached a certain level, they had to seal the road. I do not know the figures, but because our road used to run to a quarry there was enough traffic for them to seal it. It now gets re-done at regular intervals, although the quarry is long gone and it is a no exit road.
It might be worthwhile checking what the selwyn regulations are and then counting the number of cars per day.

All more good ideas. Many thanks.