2010-11-19_PERMIT FILE - C1980007 (37)

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0 CURLER PROTECTS RIGHT-OF-WAYS American Excelsior's Curlex 11 blankets were used to provide a stable environment for seeds to grow, while preventing excessive soil and seed loss through wind and water erosion on the righr -of- ways along the Illinois Tollway excessive soil and seed loss through wind and water erosion," says Mr. Bob Klatt, Landscaping Coordinator for the Tollway Authority. "It also allows the seeds to estab- lish and germinate. Once that is done, the blanket biodegrades and goes back into the environment and the seed has a head start." The blankets combine a dense mat of curled and seasoned Aspen wood excelsior with a tough, photodegradable plastic mesh which remains in place even on rough terrain. As Curlex fibers become wet, they expand. As moisture is released, the fibers contract. This natural motion creates a digging effect, main- taining superior soil adhesion. The Illinois Tollway Authority has installed roughly three million square feet of the blan- kets on the project at a cost of less than four percent of the total landscape and restoration budget which, according to Mr. Klatt, "is very economical for complete erosion control." Although the Illinois Tollway Authority has a longstanding relationship with American Excelsior, they have used other erosion con- trol blankets in the past. "We have used another manufacturer's straw blanket and found it to be okay. However. we had problems with them curling, and since they were lighter than the Curlex blanket, we found that they tended to blow and rip from the wind caused by oassing trucks along the roac:vay. says `v1 r.:Cia1. ' .�Ithougn .va var our hichways to 'ook nice and pretty. the green grass. ianoscaoing and beauty of some of our toilways is only a side benefit. Our primary concern is that our !andscaping !s functional: that our trees screen roadway noise and pollution: and. that our grassed areas deter erosion. he adds. t� At A Glance: Project: Highway Right -Of -Way Location: Illinois State Toll Highway Product: Curlex II Double -Sided Blanket Application: Slopes and right -of -way areas Job Size: 75,000 Acres Manufacturer. American Excelsior Company American excelsior Company AN EMPLOYEE OWNED COMPANY 850 Avenue H East Arlington, TX 76011 817- 640 -1555, 800 - 777 -SOIL Fax: 817- 649 -7816 hTtp://www.amerexcel.com Cunaa n a regmaraa uaaemarlt or Amn — E. Campany '0 Copyngnl 19% A—Can E>t to 1 Cam ny