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Access
ramps
Access ramps and haul roads are built during quarry operations
to link one level to another, thus allowing equipment to be
moved into the quarry and rock to be removed. Access ramps
must be properly designed, constructed and maintained, generally
with gradients of less than one in ten, of adequate width to
allow two-way traffic and with a good surface for the vehicles
using them.
All haul roads, particularly where there is any kind of drop,
must have adequate edge protection to prevent vehicles or other
equipment from accidentally leaving the road.
The location of access ramps and haul roads is an important
aspect of the quarry design because it is necessary to accommodate
a number of issues:
- Minimising the distance from the quarry face to the processing
plant
- Minimising noise and dust generated by vehicles
- Improving the appearance of the quarry from outside (minimising
any visual intrusion)
- Ensuring safe slopes both above and below the haul road
Noise produced by vehicles using access ramps and haul roads
can be a particular problem if houses are located nearby because
heavily loaded vehicles moving uphill tend to produce the most
sound. |
 Access
road with upper face rockfall protection.
As a consequence haul roads are usually best located on the
side of the quarry nearest to the houses, where this is possible,
so that the vehicle noise is screened by the rock face. Other
ways of reducing noise from vehicles include hard surfacing,
flattening of haul road gradients and additional screening
banks.
Haul roads generally are not constructed with steep gradients
because rock would be lost from the back of dumptrucks as they
carry the mineral to the processing plant, and this would cause
a hazard to other vehicles.
At some sites, it is necessary to have rockfall
protection measures in place to protect vehicles from rocks
falling from slopes above. This can have a variable impact
on the appearance of the site from outside. |
