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The problem is that there isn't much of an alternative. Municipalities have limited funds for roads. And the roads need to be of a certain quality standard, us
by Balgair 6y ago
The problem is that there isn't much of an alternative.
Municipalities have limited funds for roads. And the roads need to be of a certain quality standard, usually set at levels above the municipality. Safety, speed, cost, etc. all must be factored in.
Concrete will do the job, but it's expensive, takes time, and is climate variable. You could use dirt, but then safety and speed are lessened. Wood is possible, but it'll need to be replaced a lot. Gravel is also used, but then road capacity is diminished.
Asphalt is in a bit of a sweet spot in terms of many variables.
Grady of Practical Engineering on YT has a good series on roads here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIK6I6Q58Ec&list=PLTZM4MrZKfW8JLYNhJe2uWNa0eIfent3B https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIK6I6Q58Ec&list=PLTZM4MrZKf...
- hinkley 6y agoIn the interests of full disclosure: Your butt and hands are never happier than when you are on a fresh stretch of newly minded asphalt. It's like silk sheets. If you're riding into a crosswind, the smell isn't so bad and the overall effect is quite pleasant. But a tail or head wind on a hot day? Man alive.
- hinkley 6y agoMaybe we have too many roads to be sustainable, for several meanings of that word. Concrete can be pulverized and used in new concrete. A fact I might have learned from another PE video (or maybe veritasium).
- db48x 6y agoAll asphalt is recycled as well. You don't even have to crush it, you just heat it up and it turns plastic again.
- hinkley 6y agoExcept the part that is added to new asphalt is where the emissions are, especially the toxic ones. The carbon footprint of concrete is exceptionally high. I don't know where recycled asphalt falls on the spectrum.
- SomewhatLikely 6y agoMany (most?) of the streets around Dallas are concrete, so it can be done on large scale. Maybe materials are just cheaper there, but it appears to be a viable alternative at least in a warm climate.
- noobermin 6y agoThere is an alternative, less roads. Make things denser, make it so people don't have to travel as far, and you won't need to lay so much new asphalt.
- rorykoehler 6y agoFor some reason most of my peer group think the coming age of remote work is a great excuse to concrete over the rural parts of my country.
- noobermin 6y agoWouldn't it be the opposite? Less commuting means less roads are needed.
- bestnameever 6y ago> Concrete will do the job, but it's expensive, But it also requires way less maintenance than asphalt, doesn't it?