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Old 05-19-2009, 02:03 PM
 
809 posts, read 3,555,030 times
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I noticed construction crews are pouring asphalt over the concrete roads on the West Sam Houston toll road, west bound near West Road / 290. They have completed 2 lanes already.

I'm just wondering why they are doing this. The concrete is in great shape and isn't even that old. And asphalt doesn't hold up as well.

Any ideas?? Are they just spending money to spend money??
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Old 05-19-2009, 02:07 PM
 
Location: Charleston Sc and Western NC
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Um, I'm pretty sure they added a lane in that area.
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Old 05-19-2009, 02:10 PM
 
809 posts, read 3,555,030 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EasilyAmused View Post
Um, I'm pretty sure they added a lane in that area.
Maybe, but I don't think so. They are working on adding one further east where it goes down to 3 lanes so it will be 4 lanes. Maybe they will eventually add a 5th lane in the area I am speaking of, but they haven't started.
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Old 05-19-2009, 02:15 PM
 
Location: Charleston Sc and Western NC
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Maybe it was compromised during that rain storm.
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Old 05-19-2009, 04:57 PM
 
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I drove that today, and was wondering the same thing. The two inside lanes had been asphalted and there was this sweet 3 or 4 inch drop off next to the outside lane.....just enough to cause a significant 50 car pile-up during one of those 80 mph sprint races that are always going on along there.

Why is this necessary? Anyone?
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Old 06-03-2009, 09:02 PM
 
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An attempt at noise mitigation ???
https://www.hctra.org/file_download/..._Analysis.pdf/
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Old 06-03-2009, 09:12 PM
 
Location: spring tx
7,912 posts, read 10,011,648 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jjeansonne View Post
this is what i understand as well. the people of jersey village i think have ALWAYS complained
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Old 06-04-2009, 09:01 AM
 
809 posts, read 3,555,030 times
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So asphalt roads produce less noise?

That is interesting, thank you.
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Old 06-12-2009, 11:25 AM
 
809 posts, read 3,555,030 times
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Well, I know the answer to my question now. I heard it on the radio the other day. It's Permeable Friction Course asphalt and is supposed to reduce the number of accidents caused by wet roads.

They picked that stetch of the beltway (between 249 and 290) because of a high number of water related accidents.

Quote from khou:

This is how it works:

Taking a pitcher, Alberto poured water on a one-foot square block of PFC asphalt sitting in a plastic tray. Instead of running off as it would on concrete or regular asphalt, the water was absorbed -- almost instantly. The water then trickled to the bottom and out the sides.

It works because the PFC asphalt is full of tiny holes and air pockets that allow rainwater to drain through it.

On RM 1431 in Austin, TxDOT says the PFC asphalt is a big reason why there has been a dramatic decrease in wet-weather accidents. Before laying down the new pavement, wet weather accidents accounted for nearly 60 percent of all crashes. After the PFC, they accounted for less than 10 percent.

New pavement may make Beltway 8 safer for drivers | LOCAL NEWS | KHOU.com | News for Houston, Texas (http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou090610_tnt_pfc-pavement-toll-road.698724dc.html - broken link)

A Stretch of the Tollway That Sucks, Quietly » Swamplot: Houston’s Real Estate Landscape
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Old 06-12-2009, 11:29 AM
 
Location: Charleston Sc and Western NC
9,273 posts, read 26,368,358 times
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I think the high number of accidents would be more attributed to the way people drive on that stretch. I saw it everyday, and now on Fridays going out of town. Crazed commuters trying to shave 5 minutes off the hour + drive.

Just add water to stupidity, and you'll grow an even bigger mess.
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