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Cpl. Weston
Farnsworth of the
43rd CEC and equipment
supervisor for the
road project
sprays the Soil-
Sement using the
6000 gallon water distributor.
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The 43rd Combat Engineer Company (CEC) in conjunction with
the 49th Armored Division (AD) is helping the soldiers of Camp
McGovern to see more clearly, literally.
"The dust clouds from the fast cars passing down this road
prevent the guards in the towers from seeing," said Cpl. Weston
Farnsworth of the 43rd CEC, equipment supervisor for the project.
"That’s mainly why we are doing this project."
This road paving project should provide dust control for Camp
McGovern, because the cars and trucks passing at a fast pace
kick up more dirt than the vehicles on the camp, according to
Capt. Ken Booth, construction officer for the 49th AD.
This project has been going on for the last six weeks, and it
encompasses the area from the North Gate to the South Gate
of Camp McGovern. The roadwork began about three weeks
ago, when extra gravel was brought and mixed in with the
previous gravel to level the road. Then, the road was smoothed
out with a grader and mixed in with sandlike gravel, called fines,
and then it was shaped. After the road was shaped, a glue-like
mixture called Soil-Sement® was sprayed over the road by a
6000-gallon water distributor.
"This is the first time Soil-Sement® has been used in Bosnia,"
said Farnsworth. "We are trying it to see how well it works here
so we can use it other places in Bosnia. It’s kind of a test project."
After Soil-Sement® is sprayed, it is left to cure/soak for 24 to
48 hours. The time it takes to soak depends on weather
conditions; if it is sunny and dry, it will probably only take
24 hours, said Farnsworth. The area they are treating is 2,975
feet long, and so far it has taken 105 55-gallon containers of
Soil-Sement®.
"We should be finished August 1st, depending on the weather,"
said Spc. Brad Pardi, heavy equipment operator for 43rd CEC.
The right side of the road is pretty much done. After the Soil-
Sement® soaks into the road, they will pass the grader over it
again and smooth the road over. However, the other side has
to be done also, hence the August 1st completion date.
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