Have you ever driven down the road and seen dozens of asphalt repairs taking place? Have you ever wondered what is happening and why roads are wearing down so quickly? Simply put, more travel is occurring on roads than ever before, to the point where it has almost become a crisis. Understanding these issues can help you better grasp what can be done about this serious concern.
Increased Miles Decrease Road Lifespan
According to WAPA, the miles traveled on the average road have increased by 400% during the last 40 years. There are many reasons for this increase. First, the population has increased in dramatic ways, leading to more drivers. Lifespan has also increased, meaning that people are living and driving longer. As a result, roads are getting worn down much faster than normal.
Just think of the last time you were on the road driving just about anywhere. How much road construction did you see? If you’re anything like the average person, you probably saw quite a bit. That’s because construction has increased very heavily in recent years to repair all the problems occurring on these roads. Unfortunately, construction can’t go fast enough to fix these issues.
The solution, beyond asphalt repairs, could be to increase asphalt strength and find more effective materials to build our roads. Just as importantly, it is critical to know what other problems may further damage roads. Understanding these issues can help road design specialists create stronger pavement and create roads that last far beyond their normal lifespan in today’s modern society.
Other Contributing Factors
Many other issues can affect road health, including:
-
- Adverse weather conditions wearing down the surface
- Material and manufacturing defects when creating roads
- Poor budgets and state indifference to road repairs
- Seasonal changes in travel, such as more road travel during the holidays
- Changes in driving patterns caused by newly opened roads
- Poorly executed repairs and minimal patching efforts by road commissions
As you can see, asphalt repairs are an important way to keep roads active and strong. This also goes for your own driveway or walkway. However, there need to be major changes to the way roads are designed to minimize this kind of problem. If you are looking for asphalt repair services, contact us today!
