Potholes are naturally occuring speed bumps and free.
How come there is enough asphalt for speed bumps, but not enough to fill potholes ?
Submitted 2 months ago by DeadNinja@lemmy.world to showerthoughts@lemmy.world
Comments
saltesc@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Tedesche@lemmy.world 2 months ago
The real question is: why are we spending resources creating speed bumps when pot holes accomplish the same thing?
TimLovesTech@badatbeing.social 2 months ago
I’m not a road engineer, but it takes more conditioning of the road around the hole to patch (due to thermal events and traffic speed - especially in the US NE for example). A poorly filled pothole doesn’t remain filled very long if done poorly, but even if done well it may only last until the next winter. This then becomes the financial debate of patch vs replacement of road sections.
TheChinaman79@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Speaking as a professional paver, this is absolutely the correct answer.
madame_gaymes@programming.dev 2 months ago
And to add to this, you also have to shut down said road for a time to repait the pothole, which could be costly (traffic-wise) in some areas at certain times.
possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
Audhd spotted
fubbernuckin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
It’s not so much about the asphalt as it is about the humans being paid to put the asphalt down. There are lots of potholes to be fixed and not as many speed bumps that need to be made, so the speed bumps get finished before the potholes do.
Kolanaki@pawb.social 2 months ago
It’s not the asphalt that is lacking.
It’s the desire to spend money on the humans required to put the asphalt in the holes.
possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
They should use some sort of clay at least.
Hobbes_Dent@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Speed bumps save lives, potholes save things to complain about for votes and money at election and budget time.
possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
There is enough to fill pot holes. The problem is sending out a team takes time and money. Cities tend to fix roads but not faster than they break down.
grue@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Because that’s where the political will is.
swab148@startrek.website 2 months ago
Most people don’t know this, but speed bumps are actually hollow. They use a balloon to make the shape, then pour a thin layer of asphalt over it for aesthetic reasons. This saves money on asphalt, which is popular with city councils, so the asphalt is typically saved for more speed bumps rather than filling potholes.
thenextguy@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Asphalt has natural antigravity properties and tends to rise.
itsathursday@lemmy.world 2 months ago
When pot holes were regularly filed, workers would pour gas on the tar to make sure they could eat and have a job next week.
hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
What?
itsathursday@lemmy.world 2 months ago
It was in certain pot hole fillers interest to ensure the pot hole continued to need to be filled so they could continue to fill holes, so despite filling a hole once the gas ensured they’d have to come back again and redo the job and get paid multiple times for the same hole.
ivanafterall@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Classic time theft/tar theft combo.
NateNate60@lemmy.world 2 months ago
It is not because of a shortage of asphalt that potholes exist. It is a shortage of attention and money to fill said potholes.