Terrible Roads (neighborhood, school, to live in)

[Postal]

I have yet to find roads as bad as the ones I experience living in Mississippi. These pale in comparisson.

[Bob from down south]

You ain't seen nuttin' yet.

Asphalt pavement is made with crushed rock and petroleum-based bitumen (aka asphalt oil), a by-product of oil refining.

The cost of a ton of asphalt has increased something like 50% in the last four years due to runups in crude oil prices. The cost of road work is spiralling upwards...but unlike gas prices, which are felt immediately, you won't see the real effects for a while. When the double-whammy of declining municipal budgets and increased costs of repairs causes work to be deferred longer or just abandoned, the effects continue to accumulate over months and years.

Oil prices are the forcing function...at some point in this drill we will have to recognize that we cannot afford to maintain the road network we already have, much less keep building more.

[Shuffler]

Drive less and you'll not complain about the roads so much. If you've set yourself up to be entirely car-dependent, well, tough luck, it's not likely to get any better.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Bob from down south

You ain't seen nuttin' yet.

Asphalt pavement is made with crushed rock and petroleum-based bitumen (aka asphalt oil), a by-product of oil refining.

The cost of a ton of asphalt has increased something like 50% in the last four years due to runups in crude oil prices. The cost of road work is spiralling upwards...but unlike gas prices, which are felt immediately, you won't see the real effects for a while. When the double-whammy of declining municipal budgets and increased costs of repairs causes work to be deferred longer or just abandoned, the effects continue to accumulate over months and years.

Oil prices are the forcing function...at some point in this drill we will have to recognize that we cannot afford to maintain the road network we already have, much less keep building more.

Right on, dude. People are wringing their hands worrying about affording gas. Not only can we not afford gas, we aren't going to be able to afford THE ROAD, either. There are two main refineries that supply asphalt to most of the Rocky Mountain West, one in Texas, one in Wyoming. Both are running full-tilt--there is no more capacity there. I predict within a year that there will be effective "rationing" of asphalt. Roads are already deteriorating faster than they can be repaired in Colorado--the high cost and scarcity of asphalt will just accelerate the process. Once again, the party is over, and the "sheeple" haven't figured it out yet.

[gregabob]

I was just out visiting a couple weeks ago, put 650 miles on the rental car driving between Thornton and the Springs and points in between. Drove I-25, back roads thru Elizabeth and Franklin, dirt roads east of DIA thru Kiowa and Elbert, Black Forest and Peyton. The DIRT roads were smoother than the paved ones in the Inland Empire of SoCal. I-25 is 10 times better than any freeway out here! Drivers seemed more courteous, not as many stupid kids thinking the freeway was a racetrack (not that I have anything against racing at the track!I've done that plenty.) A pleasant experience, although it was only a few days. The other times I've visited, and driven in snowing conditions, it's been nice too. Maybe my experiences are the exception...........

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by gregabob

I was just out visiting a couple weeks ago, put 650 miles on the rental car driving between Thornton and the Springs and points in between. Drove I-25, back roads thru Elizabeth and Franklin, dirt roads east of DIA thru Kiowa and Elbert, Black Forest and Peyton. The DIRT roads were smoother than the paved ones in the Inland Empire of SoCal. I-25 is 10 times better than any freeway out here! Drivers seemed more courteous, not as many stupid kids thinking the freeway was a racetrack (not that I have anything against racing at the track!I've done that plenty.) A pleasant experience, although it was only a few days. The other times I've visited, and driven in snowing conditions, it's been nice too. Maybe my experiences are the exception...........

You're not alone. I'm from OC have have made three trips to the Denver/Springs area and didn't think the roads were that bad. The biggest complaint I had was the with the hard to see lane markers at night but I understand that's just part of living in snow country. Traffic isn't nearly as heavy in Colorado as it is here so people are less edgy and competitive over every last little inch of road. I-25 between Denver and Springs is pretty fast paced but its not any worse than any given freeway in SoCal.

[Sockeye]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Right on, dude. People are wringing their hands worrying about affording gas. Not only can we not afford gas, we aren't going to be able to afford THE ROAD, either. There are two main refineries that supply asphalt to most of the Rocky Mountain West, one in Texas, one in Wyoming. Both are running full-tilt--there is no more capacity there. I predict within a year that there will be effective "rationing" of asphalt. Roads are already deteriorating faster than they can be repaired in Colorado--the high cost and scarcity of asphalt will just accelerate the process. Once again, the party is over, and the "sheeple" haven't figured it out yet.

As a motorcyclist/cyclist I've seen plenty of road deterioration already. It's gotten more dangerous due to the conditions on most roads.
Other tidbits worth mentioning: I've noticed my municipality mowing parks every two weeks now instead of weekly. And instead of asphalt overlay, they're merely patching-and doing a very sub-par job of it. We've had three asphalt overlay projects cancelled in the past 18 months.
Can you say "slow train wreck?"

[Trinity Florida]

I agree you can not see the lines on the roads AT ALL they need to be repainted. I really noticed it when my daughter started driving for the first time and kept saying "mom i cant see the lines"

[Trinity Florida]

Originally Posted by COflower

I have to laugh at posts like this. Seriously. Wanna donate? go for it.

The roads I drive aren't that bad. Of course I have lived in CO all my life.

< shrug >

Actually compared to ohio indiana wisconsin and florida the roads here are really bad

[ryanek9freak]

LOL, you guys kill me. You should see the roads in the snowbelt of NE Ohio. THere are potholes that will swallow small cars. And I rode a motorcycle back there.

And really, what do you need edge lines for? Can you not tell where the pavement ends? I think it's just a way to pretty up the pavement. None of the rural roads in Ohio even have them.

That being said, I think the roads here are in great shape, but honestly, I could care less if Academy was a dirt road. I have a 3/4 Ton Dodge. I'll drive it anywhere.