Access to markets, education and healthcare for Colombia’s dispersed rural communities is often limited due to poor road durability.

Shoddy road infrastructure in rural areas only exacerbates the inequality of opportunity that arises when a Colombian citizen is born in the backcountry.

Unpaved rural roads built on weak soils in these regions are particularly vulnerable to the heavy rains that lash the mountainous terrain that defines the country’s topography.

However, a practical engineering solution in the form of Neoloy Tough-Cells, a unique system supplied by PRS Geo-Technologies, is bringing hope to rural communities.

Why Rural Roads in Colombia Deteriorate So Quickly

More than 65% of Colombia’s road network is unpaved, with most gravel or earth roads occurring in rural areas.

While government and Inter-American Development Bank initiatives to strengthen the rural road network have been implemented, these routes are frequently built on weak subgrades, including clays and silts.

Heavy rainfall and inadequate drainage also accelerate deterioration.

Saturated soils lose bearing capacity, resulting in rutting and deformation, while traffic pushes aggregate sideways on unreinforced roads.

Furthermore, removal of fine material through erosion leads to uneven and unsafe surfaces.

The end-result of seasonal road failure is that rural communities become even more isolated, increasing their spend on transport to centres often located miles away.

Engineering Objectives for Durable Rural Roads

Improving Colombia’s rural road infrastructure is not an easy task.

The uncertainty and risk associated with these projects is estimated to be 10 times that of primary roads due to the remoteness of the locations and geological challenges.

However, for engineers, planners and other road infrastructure professionals to succeed in these areas, it is imperative that they embrace strategies that improve load distribution over weak soils, reduce rutting and surface deformation, and maintain road performance during wet seasons.

Given that full paving is often not economically viable for rural roads, long-lasting, low-maintenance unpaved or lightly-surfaced roads are recommended.

Therefore, the equally is highly important to the efficiency and durability of materials.

Geocells are one such solution, specifically engineered to enhance the efficiency and durability of unpaved and lightly surfaced road structures.

How Geocells Enhance Performance on Rural Roads

The geocell system is a three-dimensional, honeycomb-like structure made from high-density polyethylene strips that expand to confine and reinforce loose soils.

It takes the form of a sturdy but flexible mat that confines infill material, prevents lateral spreading of aggregate and increases the stiffness of the road base layer

Geocell base reinforcement for unpaved roads is particularly effective since it reduces rutting under agricultural and freight traffic and improves performance on roads exposed to frequent rainfall, such as those in Colombia’s countryside.

Why NeoLoy Tough-Cells Are Suitable for Rural Roads in Colombia

Neoloy Tough-Cells are the most suited to the geocell Colombia context,

These cells are unique in that they are made of Novel Polymeric Alloy, a material that provides the stiffness, strength and the most durability that needed for long-term structural reinforcement, even in harsh environments.

Neoloy Tough-Cells enable engineers to build mechanically stabilised rural road bases that perform reliably under Colombia’s challenging terrain and climate conditions, deliver the longest service life, require the lowest maintenance, and provide the most cost-efficient solution over time.

Aside from displaying improved base stability on soft, moisture-sensitive soils (as well as across a wide range of soil conditions), Neoloy significantly reduce the need for thick imported aggregate layers.

Additionally, they have been proven to display the strongest resistance to deformation during prolonged wet seasons while their lowest creep behaviour makes Neoloy the most ideal solutions for sustained traffic loads. For unpaved rural roads connecting villages, rapid installation is critical. Neoloy offers the shortest installation time, requires minimal manpower, and therefore reduces construction time, logistical complexity and overall project costs.

Practical Application on Rural Roads Across Colombia

Geocell solutions for rural connectivity support the Colombian government’s vision for economic development and social inclusion.

By upgrading agricultural and community access routes as well as roads connecting rural producers to regional markets, the quality of rural citizens’ lives improves dramatically.

Road structures comprising prepared subgrade, a Neoloy Tough-Cells confinement layer, locally sourced granular infill and gravel or thin wearing surface will go a long way towards making this a reality for millions of rural Colombians.

That said, it is crucial that implementation of this system is accompanied by construction of basic drainage measures like camber and side drains to offset the impact of the country’s heavy rainfall. When Neoloy is installed, PRS engineers will design a complete and integrated solution, ensuring that all structural and drainage requirements are properly addressed and that no gaps or weak points are left in the system.

Using Geocells to Strengthen Rural Connectivity in Colombia

Rural road durability is essential for Colombia’s long-term development as a nation.

It can no longer be that people are excluded from education and the economy for the simple reason that their roads are in poor condition.

Thankfully, as a cost-effective, scalable solution, Neoloy Tough-Cells are improving year-round connectivity for citizens living in these regions.