Condition of Phoenix (city) streets

[kent_moore]

I have driven to many cities around the US. Phoenix roads are well maintained the most.

In fact, Warner Road where i always take going to work has been in repair for the past 2 months. It delays my travel by 5 more minutes. Before the maintenance, the road wasn't bad at all. I think the repair is unnecessary.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by kent_moore

I have driven to many cities around the US. Phoenix roads are well maintained the most.

In fact, Warner Road where i always take going to work has been in repair for the past 2 months. It delays my travel by 5 more minutes. Before the maintenance, the road wasn't bad at all. I think the repair is unnecessary.

Warner Road is in the SE Valley, and the only part of "Phoenix" it runs through is the Ahwatukee section. You're going to generally find most suburban streets are well maintained ... however, many of the older streets in more established or urbanized areas have fallen in disrepair. Phoenix's streets might seem well maintained, but weather conditions play an important role in this. Phoenix hardly has any kind of weather related issues compared to many other cities, and this makes a difference. In any case, streets still need maintenance, and this is one thing which has been lacking lately. Apparently, city officials believe there are other "priorities", such as spending millions of tax dollars on arena renovations and truncated domed curbs.

[DougStark]

Agree that the roads aren't as good as they should be for a young city like this in a warm climate.

I wish they'd stop using that asphalt crap and use concrete instead. Yes it costs more, but it holds up and LOOKS better IMO.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by DougStark

Agree that the roads aren't as good as they should be for a young city like this in a warm climate.

I wish they'd stop using that asphalt crap and use concrete instead. Yes it costs more, but it holds up and LOOKS better IMO.

Agree 100% about concrete holding up better. ADOT made another huge blunder by pouring that ridiculous rubberized asphalt on top of the concrete freeways. The result is a bunch of freeway sections with cracks, chips, and holes that need far more maintenance than concrete. The reason they supposedly did this was to reduce the "noise", but it makes no sense because freeways aren't intended to be quiet.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Agree 100% about concrete holding up better. ADOT made another huge blunder by pouring that ridiculous rubberized asphalt on top of the concrete freeways. The result is a bunch of freeway sections with cracks, chips, and holes that need far more maintenance than concrete. The reason they supposedly did this was to reduce the "noise", but it makes no sense because freeways aren't intended to be quiet.

I wonder of that is the stuff a lot of streets in Scottsdale seem to have. Whatever it is, it just splits leaving deep, almost gash-like holes. Really awful.

[timothyaw]

Originally Posted by DougStark

Agree that the roads aren't as good as they should be for a young city like this in a warm climate.

I wish they'd stop using that asphalt crap and use concrete instead. Yes it costs more, but it holds up and LOOKS better IMO.

Also, since concrete is a lighter color it would be cooler as well. Theoretically that is.

[Magnum Mike]

The Phoenix metro area has grown significantly in just the last 5 years and I think most of the population growth has been in the cities around Phoenix, and unfortunately the significant increase of traffic has been evident in Phoenix and the city has not been able to keep up on road maintenance and repairs. I also don't believe Governor Ducey has any control on what to budget for street maintenance, that's done by each city.

I know the one thing that I've noticed lately is a lot of repairs, maintenance, and replacement of what's under the streets, with lane closures on many major streets and of course the traffic back-ups that result from lane closures, even on weekends.

[Magnum Mike]

Originally Posted by DougStark

Agree that the roads aren't as good as they should be for a young city like this in a warm climate.

I wish they'd stop using that asphalt crap and use concrete instead. Yes it costs more, but it holds up and LOOKS better IMO.

For as large as the Phoenix area has gotten, asphalt is not very ideal, it may have been in the past when the total population of the entire metro area was under 2 million. Asphalt heats up a lot more than concrete, so you might have to replace your tires more often now because most freeways have asphalt, and with the hotter road surface temperatures in the summer months, that'll also cause tires to wear out faster.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Magnum Mike

For as large as the Phoenix area has gotten, asphalt is not very ideal, it may have been in the past when the total population of the entire metro area was under 2 million. Asphalt heats up a lot more than concrete, so you might have to replace your tires more often now because most freeways have asphalt, and with the hotter road surface temperatures in the summer months, that'll also cause tires to wear out faster.

Exactly! Concrete would be cooler (although not much in the big picture), but it also requires less maintenance than asphalt. I remember shortly after the 51 freeway was finished, it was surfaced with concrete and it was a smooth drive: no bumps or flaws anywhere. Then ADOT decided to lay rubberized asphalt down on top of the concrete to reduce the "awful noise pollution", and that's when the cracks, chips, and potholes started appearing.