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NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
Tue Mar 30, 2021, 03:33 PM Mar 2021

Why U.S. Roads And Highways Are So Bad



The roads, highways and bridges across the country are funded, owned and maintained by a complex cluster of different government agencies at the local, state and federal levels. Roads and highways are vital to economic growth and play a key role in American culture. But more than 30% of Americans say the roads in their area are in need of urgent repair.
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Why U.S. Roads And Highways Are So Bad (Original Post) NurseJackie Mar 2021 OP
This message was self-deleted by its author Hugh Bloody Bastards Mar 2021 #1
I recall an article in the 90s about roads in Vermont bucolic_frolic Mar 2021 #2
I see a lot of the same in MD. In DC it's even worse... a real embarrassment! NurseJackie Mar 2021 #4
No tax-ers and lowest bid contracts. marble falls Mar 2021 #3
There's the explanation. Short term cost vs. quality. bucolic_frolic Mar 2021 #5

Response to NurseJackie (Original post)

bucolic_frolic

(42,673 posts)
2. I recall an article in the 90s about roads in Vermont
Tue Mar 30, 2021, 04:09 PM
Mar 2021

They had the best roads. White chipped marble in the asphalt. Nary a pothole. How did they do it?

State inspectors supervised construction, even of private companies. Roadbed had to be deep because of the cold climate. Inspector had to sign off at each stage. Don't know if they still go that way, but here in PA we have private contractors as well as state, and we have potholes galore. Shallow beds allow water underneath to freeze and bulge, plows scape off the peaks.

I looked at the budget process for a couple local projects, a small bridge and an emergency repair of about 1/8 of a mile. When you add in civil engineer design, supervising, presentations and construct the items - $10,000 a foot for a 2 lane road and more than a million to replace a 60 foot two lane bridge. I don't know much about it, but it seems a lot of money to me. Somebody's feeding at the government trough really well.

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
4. I see a lot of the same in MD. In DC it's even worse... a real embarrassment!
Tue Mar 30, 2021, 05:24 PM
Mar 2021

I cringe whenever I play "tour guide" for friends and family who are visiting the DC area for the first time. "Yes, sorry... these are DC's crappy roads."

bucolic_frolic

(42,673 posts)
5. There's the explanation. Short term cost vs. quality.
Tue Mar 30, 2021, 05:35 PM
Mar 2021

Vermont knew they lacked the taxes to pay for things over and over again, and citizens would never support it, so they did it right the first time.

Some economist thinks sealed bids is the best system and contractors usually have work with little up and down in repair work.

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