ROADBED PREPARATION AT INCO-LIMITED

The development and maintenance of underground roadways are increasing ly important aspects of the modern mining process. With the trend towa rd automation and trackless mining, roadbeds capable of withstanding i ncreased wheel loading have proven necessary to maintain high vehicle speed and reduced maintenance costs. Concrete has been used successful ly on some roadways in order to obtain the required characteristics. H owever, this solution usually involves unacceptable expense. The objec tive of the Road Router project was to create a drift floor profiling machine capable of cutting a smooth surface out of the existing rock f lour of development drifts and ramps. This surface would provide a dur able, high strength, low rolling resistance roadbed that would allow f or reduced operating cycle times and lower maintenance costs of scoops and haulage trucks. The Road Router has the potential to offer an alt ernative to concrete with substantial cost savings.