Asphalt is cheap, and the most expensive because you have to redo it every few years. I agree adding plastic is dumb beyond words, but asphalt shouldn’t be used at all. We should build roads to last the first time. Don’t let the ones profiting off of redoing them every few years tell you we can’t build them to last.
Ok, so while I agree with the sentiment, what would you build them out of?
First off, I want to point out that cement is probably worse environmentally than asphalt. I also want to point out that you do need to tear up roads somewhat regularly having nothing to do with the road itself, but because underground pipes or cables need to be laid down or repaired. So any solution would have to also be manageable to dig up.
Finally, I want to add that roads get a staggering amount of wear. Truly, I don’t think any machine humans have ever used has to put up with as much abuse as a road. I live in New England and when I look outside I see a road covered in a thin layer of corrosive and abrasive salt dust. Last week this road withstood snowplows driving through a few times a day, their steel plows visibly sparkling where they contact the road, chipping off the paint of dividing lines. Thermal cycles, cold, then hot, then cold again, also consistently wear out just about every material you can imagine, and roads lay there exposed to the weather and in direct sunlight.
So with all that in mind, what better materials do we have?
The right materials on a solid base a road will last forever, just as roman roads, aquaducts, and other structures are still in use today. Stone doesn’t wear all that much, and the concrete the romans used, is still in use now.
Now as far as putting pipes and electrical lines, I would do all of that right the first time, and or leave a tunnel you could change them out in if you have to.
It would be a good use of borrowed money for a change, to build roads that last, as it will save money in the long run in not having to redo them all the time. It would be an even better use of borrowed money to build more freight and passenger rail, especially interstate, but we can’t have nice things I guess the plutocracy is dug into how things are now. We pay more money for less and worse things because people profit off of the way we do it now.
Roman roads did several layers, gravel, and the like, to make sure there was drainage and it was on a solid footing, then they would lock in paving stones with sand trapped around it, the sand has no where to go, same way patios are done in a way, and it lasts forever when it’s done right. They could even make a solid base with a layer that could be changed every once and a while.
Or even better, although this is out there, is make the roads of some kind of cast ceramic with magnatism in there, and build cars to float on the roads with magnatism. That would take all new cars and or drivers to make them compatible, but would be way faster and more efficient.
Asphalt is cheap, and the most expensive because you have to redo it every few years. I agree adding plastic is dumb beyond words, but asphalt shouldn’t be used at all. We should build roads to last the first time. Don’t let the ones profiting off of redoing them every few years tell you we can’t build them to last.
Ok, so while I agree with the sentiment, what would you build them out of?
First off, I want to point out that cement is probably worse environmentally than asphalt. I also want to point out that you do need to tear up roads somewhat regularly having nothing to do with the road itself, but because underground pipes or cables need to be laid down or repaired. So any solution would have to also be manageable to dig up.
Finally, I want to add that roads get a staggering amount of wear. Truly, I don’t think any machine humans have ever used has to put up with as much abuse as a road. I live in New England and when I look outside I see a road covered in a thin layer of corrosive and abrasive salt dust. Last week this road withstood snowplows driving through a few times a day, their steel plows visibly sparkling where they contact the road, chipping off the paint of dividing lines. Thermal cycles, cold, then hot, then cold again, also consistently wear out just about every material you can imagine, and roads lay there exposed to the weather and in direct sunlight.
So with all that in mind, what better materials do we have?
The right materials on a solid base a road will last forever, just as roman roads, aquaducts, and other structures are still in use today. Stone doesn’t wear all that much, and the concrete the romans used, is still in use now.
Now as far as putting pipes and electrical lines, I would do all of that right the first time, and or leave a tunnel you could change them out in if you have to.
It would be a good use of borrowed money for a change, to build roads that last, as it will save money in the long run in not having to redo them all the time. It would be an even better use of borrowed money to build more freight and passenger rail, especially interstate, but we can’t have nice things I guess the plutocracy is dug into how things are now. We pay more money for less and worse things because people profit off of the way we do it now.
Roman roads did several layers, gravel, and the like, to make sure there was drainage and it was on a solid footing, then they would lock in paving stones with sand trapped around it, the sand has no where to go, same way patios are done in a way, and it lasts forever when it’s done right. They could even make a solid base with a layer that could be changed every once and a while.
Or even better, although this is out there, is make the roads of some kind of cast ceramic with magnatism in there, and build cars to float on the roads with magnatism. That would take all new cars and or drivers to make them compatible, but would be way faster and more efficient.
Roman roads didnt have fleets of semi’s driving over them at 100+ kph every day. Do that for a few years on a Roman road and see how well it holds up