Challenge: Thanks to Michigan’s relentless lake-effect weather, the Barry County road crew performed a complete regrading after almost every single rainstorm on this silt road. When the weather finally dried out in the summer, heavy farming and residential traffic turned the degraded surface into a massive dust bowl. A soil evaluation also revealed the native silt wasn't naturally compatible with Perma-Zyme, so Barry County needed a long-term solution that included amending the soil before stabilization.
Results: In the fall of 2021, the county blended imported limestone and gravel with the silty native soil before stabilizing the roadway with Perma-Zyme, using a standard earthwork fleet. The goal was to create a stabilized roadway that wouldn't wash away during downpours or blow away in the summer. Years later, this Barry County road has been completely transformed. The treated surface created a smooth, pothole-free road that easily handles heavy agricultural traffic. The constant washouts and washboarding are gone, routine maintenance requirements are lessened, and the local homeowners finally got relief from the dust. Now, it’s a durable, reliable roadway that performs well without eating up the county’s seasonal labor budget.
