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Winter-resistant roads sound like a Saskatchewanian’s dream.

Well, a researcher at the University of Saskatchewan is hoping to make that dream come true. Dr. Haithem Soliman is looking into changing the way we build roads in the province and hopefully make them more weather-resistant in the future.

He says there are several factors that explain why our roads get trashed during the long winter months. For example, the topography of the land means we have higher ground water levels. The roads are exposed to high moisture levels year-round, and this increases the chance of damage during the winter. The province’s soil is also very sensitive to water and temperature variation, which can increase the damage of roads, as well.

He explains that usually, asphalt must be poured at a very high temperature to become more dense and less susceptible to damage. However, there are different additives that can be used to improve the compactibility of asphalt at lower temperatures. He admits that there are limited materials to use in Saskatchewan, so there is no way to build a perfect road, but he hopes to at least improve the construction process to ensure less wear, tear, and pothole formations.

Not only will implementing these additives improve the compactibility of asphalt at lower temperatures, but in turn, it will allow construction workers to make the most of Saskatchewan’s short construction season.

He adds that this more durable roadway won’t cause any additional wear on your vehicle, either.

“The objective of this is basically to improve the quality of the asphalt or the quality of the products used in building the road, and also the construction process itself.”

The first phase of the study will start in January and last about 18 months.