subject: Truck Accident Law Firm - Road Maintenance [print this page] Roads, like all structures, will deteriorate over time. This is usually due to an accumulation of damage from the vehicles that travel over them. However, other weather factors such as thermal cracking, frost heaves and oxidation will also contribute to their deterioration. For example, potholes are caused by damage from rain, construction or vehicle braking.
In the 1950s, a series of experiments were carried out (the AASHO Road Test) and they determined that the average damage to a road is proportional to the 4th power of an axles weight. An average tractor-trailer will weigh 80,000 pounds with 36,000 pounds on both tandem axles and 8,000 pounds on the steer axle. With that configuration, the tractor-trailer will be expected to inflict 7,800 times more damage than the average passenger vehicle (with 2,000 pounds on each of its axles).
Pavement is designed with a finite service life expectancy. Maintenance costs are figured in with construction costs and the entire cost is measured in 10, 20 and 30 year increments. Roads are designed for a variety of different life expectations (for example 15, 30 and 60-year designs). In a situation where a pavement has held up past its expected service life, its considered to have been overbuilt and the original construction costs may have been too high.
Just about all roads will require maintenance prior to the end of their service lives. Agencies are commissioned to actively monitor road conditions and use preventative maintenance as it is needed. These agencies utilize highly sophisticated monitoring equipment such as laser measuring devices. The measurements will include unevenness, roughness, curvature, cross slope and texture.
Maintenance treatments (for asphalt roads) will include fog sealing, surface rejuvenation, surface treatments, crack sealing and micro-milling. These treatments serve to protect, preserve and improve road functionality, which will extend service life without the need of rebuilding.
Failure to provide proper road maintenance will not only incur significant costs to the community, in the long run, but will also create hazardous driving conditions. A poorly maintained road can actually be a factor in a serious traffic accident. Therefore, it is the responsibility of road maintenance agencies to keep roadways in peak condition.
