Cheakamus to Function Junction Photo Gallery
– Fall 2006

Work proceeds on the northern section through the Cheakamus canyon area. Photo on right shows single lane alternating traffic as paving crews work on the new 4.5 km three lane section by the Cheakamus River. The centre picture shows the final lift of asphalt being laid down (note the worker checking to ensure the hot asphalt is at the right temperature). On the left you can see the pavement being compacted by rolling machines. Typically, when compacting new asphalt, crews use three different machines. The first pass on the freshly laid pavement is a double-drum steel roller to give the pavement the right density. Behind that is a rubber tire roller. These machines are the workhorses of the fleet, providing the highest level of compaction and sealing the fresh asphalt. They have rubber tires front and back, but with wheels offset, so as to cover the full width of pavement. The last roller is a single-drum vibrating roller which catches any irregularities and ‘closes’ the surface.

The new pavement is tested to make sure it's been compacted enough using a density gauge called a nuclear densometre (right and centre pictures).The more compact pavement is, the stronger it is. Pavement that is not compacted to specific levels of density may contain ‘voids’, which may weaken it. The photo on the left shows the pavement being marked for the installation of shoulder barriers.

Photo Gallery Home Page • Cheakamus to Function Junction - Spring 2006