How come our roads get potholed so fast?

[Amati]

Re: How come our roads get potholed so fast?

A December 2007 Advertiser article said that during the previous year the city filled 68,586 potholes in the 1,100-plus miles of the county's mostly residential roads.
http://news.hawaii.com/article/2007/...712120426.html
That is a lot of holes, and probably a lot of tire and rim damage! Wonder how many potholes were also filled on State Hwys?

[craigwatanabe]

Re: How come our roads get potholed so fast?

Global warming.....hey they blame it for everything nowdays

So then we can take it one more step and conclude that potholes and bad roads are caused by the Bush Administration!

[alohabear]

Re: How come our roads get potholed so fast?

I think in Hilo at least, the dumb road crews try too hard to fix potholes. I witnessed during the last BIG rain, a road crew actually fixing a huge pothole in the hard rain! This amazed me because how is the asphalt suppose to set when the hole is full of water and debris? Today the same hole not 2weeks old is cracking and ready to go.....Auwe!

[craigwatanabe]

Re: How come our roads get potholed so fast?

I think in Hilo at least, the dumb road crews try too hard to fix potholes. I witnessed during the last BIG rain, a road crew actually fixing a huge pothole in the hard rain! This amazed me because how is the asphalt suppose to set when the hole is full of water and debris? Today the same hole not 2weeks old is cracking and ready to go.....Auwe!

But gotta give them credit for trying right?

[sinjin]

Re: How come our roads get potholed so fast?

Potholes are triggered in already distressed pavement by the pumping action of water as it is pounded by the weight of vehicles. Water is not compressible and therefore the water in cracks tends to pry apart the asphalt when subjected to compression. Crews have a couple choices when trying to fill potholes while it's raining. One is to use a "cold mix" AC(asphalt concrete) that is workable at ambient temperatures but is not very strong since it never really sets up. This is a temporary measure. The other choice is to bring out "hot mix" AC which can be placed in light rain since it is batched at over 200 degrees. This choice of course requires an asphalt plant in operation and encourages one to go after multiple potholes to make it all worthwhile. You wouldn't do this for a single hole or even a few.

[Amati]

Re: How come our roads get potholed so fast?

I witnessed during the last BIG rain, a road crew actually fixing a huge pothole in the hard rain! This amazed me because how is the asphalt suppose to set when the hole is full of water and debris? Today the same hole not 2weeks old is cracking and ready to go.....Auwe!

They are supposed to try and keep the holes filled, even during rain, because if a rain puddle is hiding a big pothole and a car comes along and unknowingly runs over the hole it can be a dangerous driving hazard. The fact the holes need to be "refilled" later doesn't change the fact that the roads need to be kept safe.
Thumbs up to road crews that work even in the rain!

[craigwatanabe]

Re: How come our roads get potholed so fast?

Potholes are triggered in already distressed pavement by the pumping action of water as it is pounded by the weight of vehicles. Water is not compressible and therefore the water in cracks tends to pry apart the asphalt when subjected to compression. Crews have a couple choices when trying to fill potholes while it's raining. One is to use a "cold mix" AC(asphalt concrete) that is workable at ambient temperatures but is not very strong since it never really sets up. This is a temporary measure. The other choice is to bring out "hot mix" AC which can be placed in light rain since it is batched at over 200 degrees. This choice of course requires an asphalt plant in operation and encourages one to go after multiple potholes to make it all worthwhile. You wouldn't do this for a single hole or even a few.

And to think it was the pothole ferries digging them up all this time

[MixedPlateBroker]

Re: How come our roads get potholed so fast?

Why not quick set those rainy day patches with a little napalm-b?
Yah.
Cook for 10 minutes at 2,200 °F, lather, rinse, repeat.