Gravel Road Science - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Gravel Road Science

An experimental product applied to small sections of gravel roads in Williams County has proven to be a pretty big success in oil country.

So much so, that this product that is making these gravel roads stronger to handle truck traffic, is being used more and more.

Perry Olson has more on the product, and the benefits it is delivering.

(Dennis Nelson - Williams Co. Highway Superintendent) "We honestly cannot keep up with the roads that don't have anything on them but for gravel.."

Dennis Nelson -- the highway superintendent in Williams County can compare those naked roads you might call them...to one like this -- treated with something called Permazyme...

(Dennis Nelson - Williams Co. Highway Superintendent) "It is working out really well for us. It is user friendly. It gets hard and our trucks aren't pushing through." (Bob Johnson - International Enzymes Consulting and Distributing) "First year we did a mile, second year we did seven miles, this year we did 30 miles with Permazyme on their county roads."

2013 may see even more work with Permazyme...and for good reason -- it seems to be working...with added benefits.

(Bob Johnson - International Enzymes Consulting and Distributing) "I would say that Williams Co. is saving about 50 percent over a typical rebuild."

The application doesn't change a road...it is still gravel -- but what it does is harden the road, forms a bit of a base...and actually -- still allows for bumps and imperfections early on...

(Dennis Nelson - Williams Co. Highway Superintendent) "We want the blemishes to get in there. We want to holes to get it all put together then we do the top and do the top again then put the dust control on top."

That is what's happened here -- a second layer has gone down, finishing the road a year later -- hopefully making it even stronger and smoother going forward...

(Bob Johnson - International Enzymes Consulting and Distributing) "I think with the innovation here with Williams County that other counties are going to see the success and want to use it in their process as well."

And as oil traffic continues to dominate, smoother safer roads -- even those delivered with science -- are always welcome. Perry Olson, KX News.

Johnson says Permazyne is also being used on oil pads now as well.

Six have been completed so far...working well and cutting the cost with dust suppression he says.