Road construction plays a significant role in today’s transportation crisis. When roads aren’t well-constructed, it could lead to more harm than good. But before you even begin to pour the concrete or asphalt, you have to ensure that the road you’re constructing has a solid foundation. And that’s where grading and excavating come in.
What Is Grading?
When constructing a road or a sidewalk, you begin with grading. This involves cutting away at the underlying soil to create a top layer that will support the new load of the road. It’s essential that the soil match the grade of the road to prevent erosion, especially during the rainy season.
What Is Excavating?
An excavator is a piece of heavy equipment that is used to dig out trenches, rocks, and trees. It is also used to clear up the debris. Grading would be incomplete without the use of the excavator.
Excavation is the process of digging out materials that already exist in the ground. If the excavation is for a road, it’s usually done for the purpose of laying the foundation for a new road. Excavation may be necessary if the ground is too rocky or if the soil is not fit for a road.
Why Are Grading and Excavating Important?
Grading and excavating are two of the most crucial parts of road construction, especially if you’re building a new road. And if you’re repairing or improving an existing road, it’s just as important as well. While it may be common to overlook these essential steps, it doesn’t mean that it’s an easy task. Let’s take a look at why grading and excavating are important.
Erosion
The area near your road will be packed and compacted during grading. The dirt is no longer loose, so it’s not going to move around and get washed away.
Consolidation
The soil is packed together, making it more solid and firm. Without proper consolidation, it’s not going to be strong enough to support the weight of heavy vehicles.
Drainage
A graded road has a uniform slope, and there is a higher layer of soil at the bottom. This prevents the water from flowing freely, which is why it’s important to build drainage systems in this area.
Completion
Grading and excavating are crucial to the completion of a road construction project. It’s not just an ordinary trench that’s dug out. Rather, it’s an entire process that involves the careful and precise digging of the soil.
How Are Grading and Excavating Done?
Grading and excavating for a road construction project is a very thorough process. The first step is to evaluate the site and consider the general layout of the construction. Once the contractor has identified the areas that will be graded, the diagram is given to the excavator operator. The excavator has a bulldozer blade that can dig out the trench and remove the excavated soil.
The excavator operator uses the blade to dig out the soil. The excavator can dig out the soil at a rate of 1.5 to 2.5 cubic yards per minute. The blade is attached to the excavator machine, which has a range of 0.25 to 1.25 cubic yards. It is controlled by the operator, who makes sure that the load is evenly distributed.
It takes a lot of skill and hard work to be able to operate an excavator machine. That’s why it takes a well-trained operator to control and maneuver the machine. Operators also have to take regular breaks to alleviate fatigue in their bodies.
Final Thoughts
Grading and excavating are just as important as the other steps in road construction. Without it, the foundation would not be as solid. And without a solid foundation, road construction simply wouldn’t be possible.
Prepare your land for road construction with the help of DL Nagel Excavating. We are a full-service excavating company that provides excavating services in Medicine Hat. Our team of professionals has the required skills and experience to handle small and big excavation projects. Get in touch with us today!