Quote:
Originally Posted by ciceropolo
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I have seen that research on the Roman concrete before; it's interesting. But they do not know if that blend could be reproduced in mass quantities.
I also studied economics in college; but my 'study' was more practical while driving truck. I liked smooth roads and efficient roadwork. I always thought, what would be best for all of us, is if we all used the best practices of the other states or nations. Examples: If NJ can lay miles of asphalt during the off peak hours of the night; why can't we? Of if Ohio can build a half mile long three lane bridge for I-80 east in one year; why does it take us the same time to build a two lane bridge 200 feet long? If TN can lay five miles of asphalt in one ten hour day; why can't we?
Part of the problem is that we cannot acknowledge that somebody else works smarter. If we did; that would say that we work dumber; nobody likes to be dumb!
When it comes to speed and longevity in roadwork; they save lives. If you go to the NHTSA website and go through their statistics concerning fatal accidents in work zones; you will see that only about one in ten is a pedestrian. Most fatal accidents occur to people in vehicles. That does not mean that it is not dangerous to be a highway worker. But the motorist that are passing though the work zone are in the greatest danger. Anytime you stop or slow down traffic you take a chance of an accident. So the faster highway workers work and the longer their work last; the more lives they will save - speed saves lives!
That is also the reason that I questioned whether or not we could do a better engineering job on the bridge approach slabs.