Expectations
The success of CIR, like many other base recycling treatments, is dependent on a good structural design and the adequacy of the selected treatment to mitigate the existing distress. In short: you cannot treat what you cannot reach.
Ensure that the distresses of your road fit the appropriate depth addressed by your treatment.
A well-draining, structurally sound base is key to CIR optimum performance. Frequent, high-severity, non-load-related distresses within the top 2” - 5” of the asphalt pavement are eliminated with CIR, and any cracks in the remaining existing pavement take longer to return. If your road has problems in the existing asphalt more than 2 inches below the CIR layer, these cracks may reflect to the surface and shorten the life extension of your CIR treatment.
The service life of a CIR pavement is dependent on the ability of the process to mitigate the existing distress and the adequacy of the structural design. The limiting factor of a well designed and constructed CIR pavement is often the life expectancy of the wearing surface and not the CIR layer. In optimum application situations, many agencies see their CIR treatments last as long as 20-25 years.
| CIR | Optimum Performance | Average Performance | Stop-Gap Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Types of Distress |
|
|
|
| Depth of Distress | Within treatment depth (2“–5“) |
1“–3“ below treatment depth | More than 4“–6“ below treatment depth |
| Life Extension | 20–25 years | 10–20 years | 5–10 years |
EXAMPLES OF ROADS THAT HAVE BEEN TREATED WITH Cold In-Place Recycling OVER VARIOUS STAGES IN SERVICE LIFE:
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CIR 1 Year Later: Hwy 7Aa, Bethany Ontario
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CIR 3 years later: Prescott-Russel County Road, Ontario
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CIR 5 years later: Bloomington Road, Ontario
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CIR 7 years later: Hwy 6, Ontario
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CIR 10 years later: Hwy 11, Englehart Ontario
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