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Depaving Rural American Roads-Literally

Posted by: Irvin Dawid
Thanks to: Mark Boshnack
19 July 2010 - 10:00am

Rather than being part of a car liberation or permeable pavement movement, poorly maintained county roads are having their asphalt ground into gravel as a cost-cutting measure to avoid costly road reconstruction. Lack of funding is the cause.

Imagine a huge Catepillar machine that pulverizes asphalt and spits out gravel in its wake. This and similar 'downgrading' processes has occurred on roads in "at least 38 of the 83 counties in Michigan" and at least 100 road miles in South Dakota.

"Paved roads, historical emblems of American achievement, are being torn up across rural America and replaced with gravel or other rough surfaces as counties struggle with tight budgets and dwindling state and federal revenue.

Rebuilding an asphalt road today is particularly expensive because the price of asphalt cement, a petroleum-based material mixed with rocks to make asphalt, has more than doubled over the past 10 years. Gravel becomes a cheaper option once an asphalt road has been neglected for so long that major rehabilitation is necessary."

However, as one pavement expert noted, "we're leaving an awful legacy for future generations."

Full Story: Roads to Ruin: Towns Rip Up the Pavement
Source: Wall Street Journal - U.S., July 17, 2010
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"This ends up being, to be sure, a second best alternative, but it's better than the third best alternative, which is to do nothing." -- Jerold Kayden
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