De Steeg, Schijndel (2024): root heave is a thing of the past with Tree Root Guiding

De Steeg between Schijndel and Heeswijk‑Dinther had suffered for many years from severe root heave, as tree roots searched for condensation moisture beneath the asphalt during dry summers. As a result, the top layer of the asphalt had to be replaced every 3 to 5 years, leading to high costs. In 2024, the Municipality of Meierijstad applied Tree Root Guiding along 3.2 kilometres of the road, preventing root heave in the future and significantly extending the lifespan of the asphalt.

De Steeg is a connecting road between Schijndel and Heeswijk-Dinther. Every day, 2,600 motorists and 400 cyclists use this road. At weekends, when these numbers are significantly exceeded, De Steeg plays an important recreational role due to the beautiful green surroundings on both sides of the road. During dry summers, the roots of the trees along the road searched for condensation moisture beneath the asphalt. The result was root heave. Every 3 to 5 years, the top layer of the asphalt had to be milled off and replaced. This resulted in high costs.

The Municipality of Meierijstad was open to innovative solutions to prevent root heave in the future. The Tree Root Guiding (TRG) root guidance system was applied on both sides of De Steeg over a length of 3.2 kilometres. This prevents root heave in the future and ensures that the top layer of the asphalt lasts 2 to 3 times longer.

Today, cyclists can fully enjoy the green surroundings along De Steeg without having to worry about cracks, bumps or other irregularities in the cycle path. Thanks to the applied root guidance, the road surface remains durably level and safe, while high maintenance costs are saved.