| Author | Message | ||
     Fahren |
Being from New England, I always thought of damage to roads in winter. But I just read these two news items, one about "exploding" pavement in Iowa, and the other about "melting" asphalt in VA. Ride safe! Be alert! CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Iowa pavement buckling Rising temperatures in Iowa are causing pavement to buckle and shatter, The Associated Press reports. Iowa Department of Transportation workers spend 2,000 to 4,000 hours each year temporarily fixing the damage and another 6,000 hours to replace the pavement. "Transportation officials say motorists should pay special attention to pavement surfaces, use caution and reduce speed," the AP writes. "They say the blowups are likely after a wet period followed by a week of hot weather." THE WASHINGTON POST Virginia pavement melting Michael Bolden (aka Dr. Gridlock) reports that it will be "hot enough to melt asphalt" in Virginia this weekend. "Pavement expands in the heat, and cannot contract if it does not cool down enough overnight," says Albert Rollins, Virginia Department of Transportation's interstate maintenance manager. "It continues to expand, and that's when we see damage." Like Iowa, Virginia is asking motorists to be alert for these conditions this weekend. | ||
| Bartimus |
Perhaps Virginia should contact Arizona to learn how to use the "rubberized" pavement they use in Phoenix. It doesn't melt in 120 degree heat, and would probably do good out there. Just don't fall on it, it might bounce you into the next state.  | ||
| Ratbuell |
Another thing us Marylanders have to watch out for is tar-and-chip roads. This weather (it was 104 *actual* with an index of 110 yesterday) makes the "chip" part go away since they're not bonded to the tar anymore...turning the WHOLE ROAD into a huge tar snake. Like riding on ice in the middle of July. | ||
| Fahren |
Or as they say on the Eastern Shore, "Torr 'n' cheeyup." | ||
| Ratbuell |
ya, but I never go dan-e-oh-shun LOL. (that's "down-the-ocean", for the non-Baltimorons out there  ) | ||
| Just_ziptab |
The word we use around here is sun buckle or blow out.. Seen a few.....pretty nasty and we are in the prime for them to happen. Usually just one lane will blow. Me wonder if it's from the cold joint in the separate asphalt lifts from an overnight shut down. When I worked in that area,the asphalt was laid in one lane with a 3" lift with about a 6" overlap into the other lane, from first station to the end. Turn around and go back with the second lane. Final lift was then laid with about a 6" under lap of the first lift and then the return lane laid with the overlap connecting.. This makes the center joint laminated and is why you see the center paint markings "appear" to be "off" from the center road seams in asphalt.(Concrete is seamed right down the center).Yeah,and the stuff can be neart 300 degrees coming out of the screed. It's HOT out there on the new road! | ||
| 86129squids |
A couple of years ago I visited my sis in Little Rock- some dude at the auto parts store was talking about the pavement "blowing up"- sounded pretty gnarly, made me a little wary of riding in the DAMMM HOTTT heat of the day. Then I'd be riding somewhere, and see "Entering Arkansas DOT Experimental Pavement" areas- that got me to wondering WHY was I suddenly participating in an "experiment", unwillingly? I made it back alive- although an expansion joint in the middle of a moderate right-hander coming back from Hot Springs almost got me...  |
