A high profile project in Northern Nevada, Interstate 580 will serve as a link between Reno and Carson City and bring the first Interstate access to Nevada's capital city. While the project’s completion date isn’t until 2011, crews are busy constructing a path for the much anticipated freeway.

With its massive structure winding through the hillside slopes, construction on the I-580 is intricate in its execution and in need of retaining work to keep its appearance on par with the surrounding Northern Nevada landscape.  Because of their work on such high profile projects as the Hoover Dam Bypass project in Southern Nevada, the Nevada Department of Transportation and Fisher Industries enlisted Soil-Tech, the largest company of its kind in the state and the leader in environmental restoration in the greater Southwest, to assist on the project.

A two-part plan, Soil-Tech is employing hydroseeding and color mitigation services to help NDOT and Fisher Industries achieve their objective in establishing the perfect balance between correcting construction scars and damage made from development and enhancing the site’s spectacular views.

“Our clients understand that restoring the rock color and preserving the surrounding environment is as important as constructing the actual Interstate,” said Jerry Stanley, president of Soil-Tech.  “When people are traveling along I-580, the last thing they want to see is destruction from the construction process.  They want to enjoy the mountains and the terrain that Northern Nevada is known for and our services achieve this and more by increasing the overall feel and beauty of the project.”   

Soil-Tech’s Reno location has contracted on a number of sites in Northern Nevada using PermeonTM Simulated Desert Varnish, the company’s signature product.  Once applied to scars and damage caused from the incessant blasting and digging from construction, the wonder product returns the surfaces to its original color, blending surfaces to its natural environment.  To date, the company has sprayed 150 thousands square feet of Permeon on the site.

“The result is magical,” Stanley said. “Once Permeon is applied, no evidence of damage to the land is detectable and the process is quick. Most importantly, Permeon is 100 percent environmentally safe.”

While the company is working on the task of mitigating the rock colors, they are also nurturing the indigenous plant life around the I-580. Due to Northern Nevada’s higher elevation, the usual process of devegetating the site and transporting the plants to an off-site nursery isn’t required. Instead, Soil-Tech is utilizing its hydroseeding process directly on the area to help fortify the plants.

The hydroseeding material, a slurry mixture of native seed mix, tactifier, and paper mulch, is essential in erosion control and for restoring and maintaining plant life.  The two-step seeding process starts with an “A” seed mix applied over the area, acting as a base.  Then a “B” seed mix, composed of a more protected, durable solution, is layered on top.  The result is a much quicker germination process. More often than not, the plants grow much stronger, healthy and tolerant to the elements than before.  Once the project is completed, more than 112 hectares will be hydroseeded. To help make the scenic view even more enjoyable for cars traveling the 8.5-mile freeway, Soil-Tech is hydroseeding  patterns on the slope, with Permeon sprayed around them.

“While hydroseeding is the ‘grandfather’ of Soil-Tech’s services, it still remains a much needed service for contractors,” said Stanley.