Pavement reclamation using liquid calcium chloride

[Don404]

I have a heavily deteriorated parking lot and, as part of the repaving process, am considering reclaiming the pavement. The contractor has proposed adding liquid calcium chloride in the reclamation process (cold-milling to a depth of 4-5"). I have experience with cold-milled reclamation and soil-cement subbases, but not liquid calcium chloride. A few questions arise:

- How much strength can I expect from the new subbase? Is there a "___ inches of liquid calcium chloride stabilized base = __ inches of asphalt" comparison?
- The majority of the lot is used for car/light vehicle traffic; some areas are used for truck traffic.
- It is envisioned to apply the asphalt pavement directly on top of the reclaimed material. Will a tack coat be required?
- A new concrete pad has been installed adjacent to the area being paved and I am concerned about the impacts of the calcium chloride in the subbase on the new cocrete. How far apart should the two materials be kept?
- Any other issues I should be considering?

Thank you for your help,
Don

 

[Ron]

Snake oil.

 

[oldestguy]

This should tell you something about the qualifications of the contractor. It sounds stupid. The only excuse I can image for this recommendation is that there may be traffic on the reclaimed material raising dust. An easier method is watering as you need dust control. The calcium chloride attracts water to keep the dust effects to a minimum. A tack coat may help hold the dust down, but otherwise is a poor reason for getting another 1/8" of "pavement" thickness. As you know Chloride and concrete don't agree well.

 

[oldestguy]

One more thing. About 1955 I was on a grad student field trip to a central New York state county highway department. The guys there took us out to a gravel road on a rather steep hill. The gravel had been stabilized with calcium chloride, probably in bulk granular form. They claimed the adherence to the chloride with water kept the road from ravelling under traffic. The surface looked pretty good, rather well bound. So, perhaps the contractor here is thinking the same thing for compacting the new "base course". Same thing can be done without chloride for the short term, unless dust is to be controlled. If so, why the full depth?