Continuous Road Resurfacer?

[schnelltarga]

This is quickly becoming an Illinois thread. If you want to see inefficiency at it's greatest, do the 12 miles east of Champaign I-74. Work started in late May, still ongoing, with single lane for 9+ miles. It either is a slow 55 mile parade or a 3-mile back-up before the parade starts on the westbound side. Indiana on the other hand, is doing a great job on the same highway, and they are replacing bridges in addition to resurfacing.

[Mark Henry]

On secondary roads here they use tar and chip. About every 5 years they lay down a new layer.
Only bad is steep hills wash out and hard turn areas wear quicker, so they use regular pavement in those spots.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Mark Henry

On secondary roads here they use tar and chip. About every 5 years they lay down a new layer.
Only bad is steep hills wash out and hard turn areas wear quicker, so they use regular pavement in those spots.

They do that here in Washington as well. What I will never understand is why it takes so long between laying down the chip and applying the tar. Sometimes months. In the meantime, the once smooth chip surface turns to ruts, washboard, and shallow potholes. Then they seal it.

[legion]

Originally Posted by schnelltarga

This is quickly becoming an Illinois thread. If you want to see inefficiency at it's greatest, do the 12 miles east of Champaign I-74. Work started in late May, still ongoing, with single lane for 9+ miles. It either is a slow 55 mile parade or a 3-mile back-up before the parade starts on the westbound side. Indiana on the other hand, is doing a great job on the same highway, and they are replacing bridges in addition to resurfacing.

Good to know. My buddy in Indy has his annual party in a few months.

[Mark Henry]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

They do that here in Washington as well. What I will never understand is why it takes so long between laying down the chip and applying the tar. Sometimes months. In the meantime, the once smooth chip surface turns to ruts, washboard, and shallow potholes. Then they seal it.

Weird... the system they use here on existing roads the tanker/sprayer lays down the tar, chip machine runs right behind it. For just a top layer they can do 5-10 miles a day. They do it on both regular pavement and tar and chip roads.

A full strip (and improvements) and take almost as long as regular paving, but on existing roads they've found adding layers every 4-5 years extends the life for decades.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by RKDinOKC

With all of the standards, etc. that are supposed to make the road better and smooth, that make it take so long to re-do, the road doesn't seem any smoother after they finish anyway.

Standards have changed in South Carolina, much much better roads that last and aren't potholed each time it freezes or rains hard.