Lime is added to react pozzolanically with soil to provide long-term strength.

Benefits include soil drying and soil modification properties, substantial increase in sub-grade strength, continued strength gain over long periods of time, and long-term durability to withstand heavy traffic.

Strengthening the existing soil with lime, rather than removing and replacing it with granular material can result in substantial cost savings.

Roads and civil engineering

Calcareous stones and sand, rigorously graded, are used on a large scale to build embankments and roads, produce concrete and asphalt. These products are increasingly standardised. The addition of lime to clay soils is widespread for the foundations of roads, railway lines, car parks, airports, etc.

Asphalts

Hydrated lime is used as a filler in asphalt blends and asphalt-fines matrices: this additive significantly improves the cohesion of blends