• Service life equal to surrounding asphalt
• More affordable than manhole excavation
• Absorbs impact from vehicles
• 5 year guarantee
"ROAD SMOOTHIES ARE GREAT. I DRIVE OVER ONE EVERYDAY!" J. MANDRICK
John Mandrick, PE
Utilities Director, Fernandina Beach, FL
Road Smoothie user since 2008
Smoothing Roads and Budgets
All Across America
The patent-pending Road Smoothie® is a permanent solution to manholes, valve and monument boxes that are below grade due to settling, or the ideal product to install on your next overlay or resurfacing project. Highly durable in high-traffic streets or the quietest of residential areas, the Road Smoothie has been installed and tested in the extremes of cold and snow in Cody, Wyoming, and the severe heat of the Arizona desert. The Road Smoothie is snow plow and street sweeper safe, temperature, chemical and UV resistant, and has a five-year guarantee. In short, a Road Smoothie is designed to outsmart the ugliest of manholes and outlast the pavement around it.
Recycled rubber from automobile tires is being incorporated onto our roadways and cities every day, from combining it with asphalt and paving our highways and roads, to replacing sidewalks. Our research and development of the Road Smoothie began with a 100% recycled product. What we found, was that it would not hold up under heavy traffic and was not resistant to certain weather conditions. Cities and contractors ran curling problems, so we researched other rubber solutions currently in use on roadways today. Since the early 1990s railroads have been using neoprene rubber at many railroad crossing across the country. We developed a solution by using a ¼ inch layer of hard neoprene rubber and adhering to recycled rubber. This eliminated any curling possibilities and the Road Smoothie was born. The hard neoprene allows for a great resistant to traffic, chemicals and weather, while the recycled rubber is an excellent insulator and allows for a superior bonding surface to all types of cast iron, metal and composite roadway products.
The Road Smoothie is made to elevate to the roadway while insulating your manhole infrastructure. Road Smoothies are by far the most cost-effective, easiest-to-install, 100% recyclable, and risk-proof solution for raising structurally sound manholes, valve boxes and monument boxes. Its also the only solution which solves roadway problems of less than an inch. A Road Smoothie will reducing noise, eliminate the warping present from traditional riser rings, and put an end to driver claims of tire and wheel damage due to manholes. Most of all, the Road Smoothie is designed to last. A mighty piece of engineering, a Road Smoothie will outlast the pavement around it.
What's in a Road Smoothie?
Hard Neoprene Rubber is combined with Recycled rubber to create a Road Smoothie. The Road Smoothie is a green product using recycled rubber from tires here in the USA. The Neoprene rubber is the type in use for heavy traffic on railroad crossings, roadways and sidewalks.
These two materials combined are made to fit precisely on the manhole at a precise depth. Secured by bolts or super-adhesive traditionally used in bridges and buildings, the Road Smoothie can be drilled for ventilation or pick access anywhere and as many times as needed.
Save when you Repave.
TRUTHS ABOUT MANHOLE REHABILITATION:
Business is about risk and as a successful Contractor, you know profitability is about minimizing risk and executing to plan. A Road Smoothie product is the answer to so many questions as it will save time, money, and greatly reduce the risk of injury to workers and of injury claims.
Project managers understand what it takes to be successful; a good estimator, crew, supplies and equipment. At Road Smoothie, we can fulfill the needs of one critical area: the manhole, valve box and monument box adjustments.
WHY A ROAD SMOOTHIE IS DESIGNED TO OUTSMART THE WORST OF MANHOLES AND OUTLAST THE PAVEMENT AROUND IT.
Estimator- Road Smoothie will eliminate any risk of hidden costs. The only variable is labor; how it takes one person to either drill three holes and bolt down the Road Smoothie or the time it takes to caulk out a tube of adhesive. Either one generally takes 3-10 minutes. Contractors who have used a Road Smoothie in the past understand this and have a big cost advantage to those bidding the job not using a Road Smoothie. Generally, a Road Smoothie is less than $200 installed.
Installation- No jackhammer, no waste, no waiting a day for cement to cure. One person 3-10 minutes to fully install. No risk of injury and no heavy equipment needed to haul away rubble.
Street closure- Road Smoothies eliminate the down time it takes for traditional concrete installations. Bolted Road Smoothies are ready as soon as they are bolted down. Glued Road Smoothies are generally ready for traffic within 2-5 hours depending on outside temperatures.
Liability claims- The Road Smoothie extends the life of the infrastructure beneath it. A perfect manhole before your overlay is not compromised by jackhammering. It is still perfect after the Road Smoothie installation. There is no risk of sinking manholes, uneven manholes, noisy, rusting, breaking or cracking collars. There are no hidden problems. The Road Smoothie sits right on top for the world to see, and nothing is hidden underground. We offer your client a 5-year warranty.
Green factor- Digging up a traditional manhole unearths 500-1,000 lbs. of material that must be carted to a landfill. Jack hammering and hauling have even more energy costs. Because there is no rubble to haul away, you save equipment costs, dump fees, and your company is using another environmentally friendly product which is made with 50-91% recycled tires. Knowing your company is helping keep the millions of tires used a year out of landfills is a great way to give back to your community and Mother Earth.
Sizes- Road Smoothies can be cut to any size or shape required to elevate each particular manhole, valve box or monument box. Depth would range from ½ inch to 3 inches.
What a Road Smoothie Can Do for Your City
This will be taken to a landfill.
One of the biggest assets of every city and county in America, is their streets and the infrastructure underneath. With millions of dollars at stake, its important to make the right decisions, hire the right contractors and reduce liability. Road Smoothie is a product that addresses many problems faced by municipalities and cities. Road Smoothie is a multifaceted road issue resolver.
This green product that has a profound impact on our environment. Purchasing and using Road Smoothies benefits the environment and your community in many different ways:
• It's made with a majority of recycled tires which will reduce landfills of used tires.
• It's 100% recyclable, and can be milled up and used in the next generation of asphalt.
• Generally, 500-1000 lbs. of material from installing grade rings or riser rings, heads to the landfill; not to mention the resources required to haul, hammer, and pick-up the debris.
• Depending on the project, the Road Smoothie could qualify under the Federal LEEDS program.
Protecting your biggest asset:
Road Smoothies attach directly to the manhole lid, so no underground digging is required. This eliminates any risk of perfect manholes becoming uneven, damaged or cracked. Perfect before the overlay means perfect after.
Below grade manholes damage asphalt or concrete around manholes. If you factor in the pounding the infrastructure underneath takes from vehicles dropping down a level right onto the manhole lid, the entire is taking a beating deteriorating the road and infrastructure rapidly.
Roads open sooner with the installation of a Road Smoothie, because a Road Smoothie takes minutes to install, and there is no waiting for someone to hammer out the manholes or wait for concrete to dry. Road Smoothies eliminate consumer claims of manhole damage to rims and tires and front ends.
Smooth Talker:
Brighten your community or add civic pride by dressing up your manholes with city logos, sports teams, special events or directions to hospitals, schools, arenas.
Adding the Road Smoothie to a RFP:
Adding Road Smoothies to future utility adjustments is simple and easy:
• Ask for us by name: The Road Smoothie
• Ask for a rubber lid to elevate and insulate your utility adjustment
• Authorize a Road Smoothie as well as grade rings and riser rings or collars
01.
*For the safety of those installing Road Smoothies and for ease of installation, it is recommended that Road Smoothies be installed in a workshop and then be traded out with manhole covers already on the road. For questions or assistance with installation please call 801-414-3220.
Instructions For Old Style Cleated Manhole Covers with Holes
Included: 3 bolts with washers, 3 lock washers and 6 hex nuts. Bolts and washers should look the same under the manhole cover as they come packaged together.
Needed Equipment: Drill with 1/2 drill bit and 5/16 wrench or pliers.
Find 3 holes, use 3 of the bolts to create a triangle shape. If additional holes are needed for ventilation, simply drill more holes as needed.
Step 1- Lay Road Smoothie on top of manhole cover to get an idea of how it will look when completed. There should be roughly a one inch gap between the edge of the manhole and the edge of the Road Smoothie all the way around. Take note to ensure that edges are even.
Step 2- Using a 1/2" drill bit, drill the Road Smoothie to match the holes in the manhole cover. If additional holes in the manhole cover are needed for ventilation, they can be drilled at this time as well.
Step 3- Install bolts through Road Smoothie/manhole cover. Install the 3 bolts in a triangle shape if possible.
Step 4- Place flat washer first, then one hex nut. Tighten until bolt makes indention on top of Road Smoothie.
Step 5 - Add lock washer and second hex nut, then tighten both hex nuts together. Repeat until all bolts are installed. The Road Smoothie/manhole cover is ready to be installed on the road.
Instructions For Manhole Covers with Flat or Smooth Surfaces
Included: Adhesive
Needed Equipment: Caulk gun, Spreader or spatula, gloves to prevent adhesive on hands
Summary: For manhole covers without cleats or with a smooth surface, the Road Smoothie should be installed in the workshop using a special adhesive (furnished) and a caulk gun. A layer of adhesive should be applied to the Road Smoothie, (use the entire tube) concentrate on the edges and work inward, ideally in a room with a temperature of 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Adhesive should be used in a well-ventilated area. For best results allow 24 hours to dry. Once the adhesive is completely dry, the connected Road Smoothie/manhole cover is ready to be installed on the road.
Step 1- Clean manhole cover of any dirt, grease, or asphalt.
Step 2- Lay Road Smoothie on top of manhole cover to get an idea of how it will look when completed. There should be roughly a one inch gap between the edge of the manhole and the edge of the Smoothie all the way around. Take note to ensure that edges are even.
Step 3- Squeeze adhesive in a circular motion on the Road Smoothie. Start on the edges working inward.
Step 4- Take spreader and stroke adhesive towards the center. Make sure the edges of the Road Smoothie are well coated with adhesive. Just a thinner layer is necessary as you work towards the center (i.e., should be like spreading butter on toast). Any additional adhesive can be applied to manhole cover.
Step 5- Apply Road Smoothie to manhole cover as described in Step 2.
Step 6- If possible, lay another manhole cover on top of Road Smoothie (Road Smoothie is like the meat in a sandwich) and allow to cure for 24 hours. Once cured, the Road Smoothie/manhole cover is ready to be placed on the road.
Option 2 If another manhole cover is not available, after one hour, flip the Road Smoothie/manhole cover over so the Road Smoothie is underneath allowing the Road Smoothie to cure under the weight of the manhole cover for 24 hours.
02.
Road Smoothie Specs:
Non Recycled Neoprene Compound: Blend of SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber), CR (Neoprene) and NBR (Nitrile) rubbers.
Durometer: 55-75 Shore A
Temperature Range: -40º F to 180º F
Minimum Tensile: 725 PSI or 5 MPA
Finish: Smooth
Minimum Elongation: 300%
Chemical Resistance: Excellent resistance to Hydrogen Gas, Natural Gas, Salt/Sea Water, Butanol
(primary), Acetic Acids (up to 20%), Ammonium Salts, Mineral Oils, Silicone Oils and Greases, and
many more. Moderate oil, petroleum-based solvents and ozone resistance.
Flexibility: This hard durometer (65-75) sheet rubber offers limited pliability and low elasticity.
Standard Sizes are 23.25 round and depth range of 1/2 inch to 3 inches. Road Smoothies can be
ventilated as needed to reduced any concern over H2S (Hydrogen Sulphide) or other gas buildups.
03.
On the Road in these locations in the United States and Canada
ROAD SMOOTHIES ARE DOT APPROVED
Tempe, Arizona
Hays, Kansas
Avondale, Arizona
Racine, Wisconsin
Kansas City, Mosourri
Taylorsville, Utah
Patrick AFB, Florida
West Carrollton, OH
Cushing, Oklahoma
Nashville, Tennessee
Medford, Oregon
Lewiston, Idaho
Littleton, Colorado
Ontario, California
Escondido, California
Charlotte, North Carolina
Rancho Santa Margarita, California
St. Charles Parrish, Louisiana
Ashley Valley Water District, Utah
Murray, Utah
Syracuse, Utah
Bountiful, Utah
South Salt Lake City, Utah
South Valley Sewer District, Utah
Coalville, Utah
West Jordan, Utah
Granger-Hunter Improvement District, Utah
Clinton, Utah
Palmetto, Florida
Fuquay Varina, North Carolina
Carrollton, Texas
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Laguna Niguel, California
Milton, Georgia
Belleair Bluffs, Florida
Grandview, Washington
Maitland, Florida
Atherton, California
Eufaula, Alabama
South El Monte, California
Road Smoothies are DOT Approved
UDOT- Approved
Pending
VDOT
Caltrans
NDOT
FDOT
TDOT
04.
Questions and Answers
Q. Is it difficult to install a Road Smoothie?
A. Road Smoothies are simple to install. Each Road Smoothie can be installed by one person, usually in less than 10 minutes. This eliminates the need for a road crew over the course of two days during the traditional raising of a manhole.
Q. Are Road Smoothies safe for motorcycles and bicycles?
A. Road Smoothies are very safe. Just as a traditional manhole poses no safety hazard, the Road Smoothie does not negatively impact motorcycles or bicycles.
Q. Are there different sizes of Road Smoothies?
A. Road Smoothies are available in many shapes and sizes. We specialize in manhole, water meter and rectangular frames, but Road Smoothies can be custom ordered to fit your specific needs.
Q. Are Road Smoothies guaranteed?
A. Each Road Smoothie comes with a five-year, no questions asked replacement guarantee.
Q. Can a Road Smoothie be reused on a different manhole?
A. Yes. Road Smoothies are inter-changeable. When a Smoothie solution is not longer needed in a location, the Road Smoothie can easily be moved to a location in need.
Q. I need ventilation holes for my manhole. How does that work with a Road Smoothie?
A. You can drill as many holes as you need for ventilation without affecting the integrity of the
Road Smoothie.
Q. Will salt or other melting agents damage my Road Smoothies?
A. No. Road Smoothies have been tested against many different chemicals including: Hydrogen Gas, Natural Gas, Salt/Sea Water, Butanol, Acetic Acids, Ammonium Salts, Mineral Oils, Silicone Oils, Motor Oils and Greases.
Q. Will a snow plow damage Road Smoothies?
A. Road Smoothies, like traditional manholes are slightly below street level. Because of this, snow plows will not damage Road Smoothies as long as they are installed properly.
Q. Will extreme temperatures effect Road Smoothies?
A. No. Road Smoothies are guaranteed in temperatures of 180° to -40° Fahrenheit.
Q. Does the Road Smoothie move or flap up when driven over?
A. No. Two different types of rubber are used in the making of a Road Smoothie and the weight of the product wont allow it to move or flap.
Q. Will the rubber ever get caught on a snow plow or fold over?
A. No. Quality controls are in place so the Road Smoothie will always curl down, working with the natural curve of the neoprene and into the manhole cover.
Q. What happens when a street sweeper runs over the Road Smoothie?
A. Road Smoothies are made to withstand high traffic and a street sweeper.
Q. The SmoothTalker is great, but will the colors or the logo wear off?
A. No, the SmoothTalker is made with the same material and specs as the standard Road Smoothie.
MAIN OFFICE
8537 S. Redwood Rd., Unit B
West Jordan, UT 84088
Phone: 1-801-414-3220
Fax: 1-801-676-8077
John Kelley
801.414.3220
john_roadsmoothie.com
Kris Calvert
859.312.8416, lexington, ky
424.354.9965, los angeles, ca
kris_roadsmoothie.com
