I was just wondering about this the other day:
Work on this $13.5 million construction project has been under way for about a year, and it's nearly completed.
In fact, if not for all the rain recently and the cold snap, travelers might have been hopping on and off the interstate at Curtis Road early this month.
But Markwell says the last piece of the job – putting down the asphalt surface – will require a few 40-degree or warmer days. Then it will take a few more days to mark the lanes and install the signs before the interchange can open.
"It just depends on the weather and what happens," he added.
"But Markwell says the last piece of the job – putting down the asphalt surface –..."
Why would they be installing asphalt on a brand new road? I'm not a road engineer so maybe I'm missing something. But in my experience new roads are built from concrete and they don't use asphalt until many years later when the road needs rehab. Asphalt doesn't last nearly as long, either, so this is further confusing.
Any public works buffs out there that can shed some light on this?
But in my experience new roads are built from concrete and they don't use asphalt until many years later when the road needs rehab. Asphalt doesn't last nearly as long, either, so this is further confusing.
Illinois used to pave roads exclusively with concrete, in the 1950s when the Interstates were built a 10in. layer of asphalt was laid then concrete was laid over that. These "Super Highways" were designed to last about 20 years, When the State raised the truck weight limits this accelerated the deterioration of the roads, A perfect example of this is the stretch of I -74 from Mahomet to Champaign. This road was built with an experimental concrete using porus river rock that held water and was subject to fracturing in the cold mid-west cycle of freeze -thaw. The cost of asphalt laid is roughly the same as the cost of concrete alone, that is material only. With the improvements in asphalt technology have come stronger, longer lasting mixes as well as the ability to recycle on the spot as was done on IL. rt. 47 north of Mahomet about 10 years ago. The biggest challenge to road builders is the gummy soil in Illinois that must be stabilized with lime or some other crushed limestone product, this was done in 1990 on the stretch of I-74 from I-57 to to the University Ave. exit at Urbana, this pavement is 18in. thick and has held up beyond IDOTS projected live span. When it does become necessary to repave, it will require milling or grinding off about 6in. then relaying the asphalt after it is recooked and new oil and additives are replaced
Hmm, thanks for the info.
Is this also the case within the cities? I guess that's where I'm taking my anecdotal experience from. It seems that all city roads are first built in concrete, then many years later they get a series of asphalt repavings to extend their life.
Illinois has what IDOT calls the "Uniform manual of road construction" It has the minimun specs. for road construction. I suppose cites have the option of using their own specs, If its a State road through a city, the State specs. are used. Maybe Rex could speak to this, I worked for IDOT but not in construction.
Granted it has been many years since I was using my engineering skills for city, state & Federal highway/municiple road construction but we always referenced the State of Illinois's "Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction" for state roads and most city streets. The Feds had their own version now called the "Standard Specifications for Construction of Roads and Bridges on Federal Highway Projects" for Federal roads in Illinois.
Just for your information, curious, there are many options or combination of pavement materials available depending upon use and site charateristics. I believe both Urbana and Champaign have examples of bricks used for street and some sidwalk construction. It is a less expensive replacement alternative to overlay these and portland cement pavements with bituminous cement (asphalt) to extend their usable life. However, keep in mind bituminous cement (asphalt) is a compressible pavement where portland cement and brick are non-compressible. There has to be a certain amount of non-compressiblity in road construction to avoid the development of ruts in the pavement.
I guess they didn't realize that it was going to get cold this time of year, I wonder if they will finish the road before next March. The article also says that they will start Curtis road in 2009, I doubt in the shape it's in now after a few months of limited use that it will make it that long after the exit opens.
Out at the interchange, they've laid the "base" asphalt. However, it still needs several more inches of a "top" layer (which is what the vehicles will drive on) added to it.
They've been laying asphalt at the new Meijer in Southeast Urbana, what exactly is IDOT waiting for? (Oh sorry... I'm comparing private business to government... shame on me.)
It'll be a real shame if because of this, they can't open up the interchange until next Spring...
They've been laying asphalt at the new Meijer in Southeast Urbana, what exactly is IDOT waiting for? (Oh sorry... I'm comparing private business to government... shame on me.)
Yeah, shame on you is right. If you can't see the difference between the two, I'm glad you're not building roads.
If a pothole develops in the Meijer parking lot because they laid asphalt when they shouldn't have, it's no big deal. Just drive around it, patch it up, whatever. If a pothole develops on the I-57 off ramp where cars will be traveling 30-50 mph while negotiating a turn, that's quite a different story. I'm sorry you don't see the difference. The whole mantra of 'private can do it better than public' that is so prevalent on this site is getting a bit old.
"The whole mantra of 'private can do it better than public' that is so prevalent on this site is getting a bit old."
If you're getting tired of this site, I recommend starting your own blog. It's free and easy, and the more the merrier.
If you're getting tired of this site, I recommend starting your own blog. It's free and easy, and the more the merrier.
IP, I can't imagine how much time you've spent in the past year posting a comment along those lines. I think there are some existing Drupal plugins that would give you another "reply" link to each comment, posting that exact message. Heck, you'd save time typing it, or at least copy-pasting it.
Asphalt doesn't last nearly as long, either, so this is further confusing.
One of the advantages I've always heard about asphalt is its recyclability. Apparently, most/all of the remaining asphalt is or can be recycled. You might have to replace/repair road surfaces more often, but at least you're not dumping lots of materials.
"IP, I can't imagine how much time you've spent in the past year posting a comment along those lines. I think there are some existing Drupal plugins that would give you another "reply" link to each comment, posting that exact message. Heck, you'd save time typing it, or at least copy-pasting it."
It's amazing to me how somebody who can't even be bothered to register a username can still feel entitled enough to constantly tell us how poorly we do things here.
And they keep coming back, and telling us over and over and over. So I guess we must not suck that bad, after all, or else they wouldn't still be here.
That said, if someone thinks they can do it better, there really are lots of free and easy options. I'll even help them get it set up. I really do think the more the merrier when it comes to blogging.
>Yeah, shame on you is right. If you can't see the difference between the two, I'm glad you're not building roads.
>If a pothole develops in the Meijer parking lot because they laid asphalt when they shouldn't have, it's no big deal. Just drive around it, patch it up, whatever. If a >pothole develops on the I-57 off ramp where cars will be traveling 30-50 mph while negotiating a turn, that's quite a different story. I'm sorry you don't see the >difference. The whole mantra of 'private can do it better than public' that is so prevalent on this site is getting a bit old.
Sure, there is a difference, but you are making a mountain of a mole hill. It can be done, and it is being proven at the Meijer store.
You act as if there isn't a single pothole in any of the roads in Illinois, that will be ran over by a vehicle running at city or highway speeds while negotiating a curve. Not a single one. Laughable. Simply laughable. You haven't been on *any* of the hundreds of deteriorating interstate ramps in this state in your entire life, have you?
Also, come out from under that rock and stop posting as an anon. Get yourself a login here, it only takes a few minutes.
Yes, because posting as "AnF" is completely non-anonymous and transparent. I thought IP was discouraging registered users from badgering anons into signing up...
"I thought IP was discouraging registered users from badgering anons into signing up..."
I used to, but given the spate of trolling I've seen recently, I'm giving lots of leeway to registered users to badgers anonymous users.
That said, I'd much, much rather have someone post under an anonymous username (such as AnF or Arvid) than just as "Anonymous." At least we can keep track of who's saying what, and it gives us a way to ID trolls. In fact, (and I'd always hoped I'd never get there) I'm at the point where I'm thisclose to requiring moderation for unregistered users' comments.
I thought this project was ahead of schedule. Also to base completion of needing 40 degree or better weather for a few days in a month where the avg high temp is only 37 degrees, makes you wonder how much these planners get paid.
Anonymous--I'd like to know if you have a list of things that the government does better than private industry for the same price. In fact, I'd like a list of things that the government does as well as private industry.
I give you just one reason-----govern. Private industry cannot perform that function.