A recent trial of the OTTA Seal technique showed that it may be a better option for dust minimisation and, based on life cycle costing, could be a lower cost option when compared with traditional short-term dust palliatives. In order to test this postulate a research trial funded by Land Transport New Zealand has set up four trial sites around New Zealand to compare the performance and costs of the OTTA Seal, with waste oil and other dust minimisation techniques. Waste oil has been used in the research in spite of environmental issues as it has been widely regarded as the most cost effective dust minimisation treatment for unsealed roads in New Zealand, and its use is still allowed by a large number of territorial local authorities throughout the country. The paper will report on the construction method, the results from the first season of monitoring of the trial sections and compare the life cycle costs of the various methods.
