CAUTION.....RANT AHEAD!
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Iowa
RE: CAUTION.....RANT AHEAD!
Here in Iowa, most of our secondary roads are still concrete. These have expansion joints every 10' or so. These also absorb water when it rains. Then comes the summer heat.. and when it gets too hot.... we get blowups. Thats where the concrete expands so much, it literally blows the concrete in the air like it was bombed! Usually opens the exp joint on both sides of the joint and throws big chunks of concrete all over the roadway. Ive seen chunks as 1/2 the size of basketballs! There is no warning where or when you will see one you just need to be aware of your surroundings at ALL times. Ive often wondered... what if one of these went off as I was crossing it or just as I was about to cross it???
bob
bob
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Joined: Apr 2007
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RE: CAUTION.....RANT AHEAD!
ORIGINAL: thrillseeker
they use whatever is cheapest at the time of bidding/construction... which is why you will travel across both mediums on the same highway. One year it might be asphalt, the next year it might be cement.
they use whatever is cheapest at the time of bidding/construction... which is why you will travel across both mediums on the same highway. One year it might be asphalt, the next year it might be cement.
This is entirly not true. I build roads for a living, in the Chicagoland area. Concrete is always more expensive than asphalt, but concrete is also way stronger. There are pros and cons to each type of material.
Asphalt is cheaper, but doesn't last as long. However, it's much easier and cheaper to repair.
Concrete is more expensive, but harder (and more expensive) to repair. Plus it's louder. Vehicles make more noise running on concrete, which may disturb local neighborhoods.
Over the years, road technology has vastly improved. Roads are built far better than they used to be. The roads you are complaining about are the OLD ones, that weren't built as well. For most of the Interstates and large highways, a combination of both concrete and asphalt is used.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2006
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From:
RE: CAUTION.....RANT AHEAD!
ORIGINAL: voyager1
roads in ohio damn bad here too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dang near flipped me off my bike before. now,where did my tax $$$ go to.not on the roads....rant on that one here too... [:@] damn semi trucks tear roads up so bad. [sm=icon_flaming.gif]
i hit a pot hole last year,it was so beep,it sheared off my license plate bolts and i had to buy a new plate. [sm=rant.gif]
roads in ohio damn bad here too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dang near flipped me off my bike before. now,where did my tax $$$ go to.not on the roads....rant on that one here too... [:@] damn semi trucks tear roads up so bad. [sm=icon_flaming.gif]
i hit a pot hole last year,it was so beep,it sheared off my license plate bolts and i had to buy a new plate. [sm=rant.gif]
Anyway, be careful out there.
DougJ
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,863
Likes: 21
From: Kennewick, WA
RE: CAUTION.....RANT AHEAD!
ORIGINAL: DougsDyna
I am not a truck driver, but please realise they pay major taxes to support the upkeep on our highways. Cars are just as hard on pavement as trucks are. Roads just aren't built as good as they used to be.
Anyway, be careful out there.
DougJ
ORIGINAL: voyager1
roads in ohio damn bad here too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dang near flipped me off my bike before. now,where did my tax $$$ go to.not on the roads....rant on that one here too... [:@] damn semi trucks tear roads up so bad. [sm=icon_flaming.gif]
i hit a pot hole last year,it was so beep,it sheared off my license plate bolts and i had to buy a new plate. [sm=rant.gif]
roads in ohio damn bad here too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dang near flipped me off my bike before. now,where did my tax $$$ go to.not on the roads....rant on that one here too... [:@] damn semi trucks tear roads up so bad. [sm=icon_flaming.gif]
i hit a pot hole last year,it was so beep,it sheared off my license plate bolts and i had to buy a new plate. [sm=rant.gif]
Anyway, be careful out there.
DougJ
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From:
RE: CAUTION.....RANT AHEAD!
Don't forget the thrill of Tar sealer on a hot day. It makes a bike really shimmy. Up hear in Ohio we have a lot of minority owned highway construction companies. A few years ago the Cleveland Plain Dealer had an article showing how many Mansions have been buit using taxpayers money. ( It does not go to the lowest bidder. To get Federal funds it has to go to a minority firm to receive any funding.) The gas taxes, tolls, and other fees have made an expensive state to drive and live in. Any doubts ask any Trucker who drives through Ohio. TERRIBLE ROADS. I have nothing against minorities, but believe , the contracts should go to the lowest bidder and should have a five to seven year warranty. A 4 to 5 foot thick concrete bed for highways should do the trick in warm areas and 8 to 10 feet in cold areas of the country. After World War 2 most of our highways were designed by German immigrants. ( Previous experience the AutoBahn. ) America can have the best roads in the world if the money went to materials instead of in Managements pockets. No one person needs 4 to 6 mansions , when we still have homeless people, and regular people struggling to take care of their families. Now I will get off my soapbox.
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