In the American Mid-West, the gravel road is making a comeback:
The paved roads that finally brought rural America into the 20th century are starting to disappear across the Midwest in the 21st. Local officials, facing rising pavement prices, shrinking budgets and fewer residents, are making tough decisions to regress. In some places, they have even eliminated small stretches of gravel road altogether.
… the cost of pavement has risen dramatically in recent years. Some engineers estimate it costs up to $300,000 to replace a mile of paved road surface now.
I’ve been struck recently how noticeable the difference is becoming between public infrastructure in parts of the U.S. and elsewhere, even in what used to be called the Third World.
TheEconomist made a similar observation:
… according to a World Economic Forum study America’s infrastructure has got worse, by comparison with other countries, over the past decade. In the WEF 2010 league table America now ranks 23rd for overall infrastructure quality, between Spain and Chile. Its roads, railways, ports and air-transport infrastructure are all judged mediocre against networks in northern Europe….
In 2006 America spent more than twice as much per person as Britain on new construction; but Britain spent 23% more per person maintaining its roads.
the core reason is excessive public servants’ salaries so that almost no money is left over to do real work, i.e. pave roads.
When will the tax paying public wake up to the fact that our excessive public sector unionization and associated far above salaries plus (often defined) benefits, way above market wages is killing the economy and in this case, the roads ?
BTW – you do realize that the building shown in that pic at LAX serves no aeronautical function, right? It’s a “theme” restaurant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_Building
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/01/08/laxs-encounter-restaurant-closes-with-no-plans-to-reopen/
Heavy equipment and trucks transporting oil are destroying roads in Texas forcing officials to convert the roads. http://rt.com/usa/texas-gravel-asphalt-txdot-748/
My question is why isn’t the companies that are putting up extra traffic (related to the local oil boom) foot the bill for the road maintenance?
Indeed .. the issue especially in the US is that gasoline taxes are FAR TOO LOW .. and that road use is free. Roads ought to be metered, by the mile and weight, like in most European countries, and gasoline taxes ought to go up to $2 or $10 a gallon .. you pay nothing you get nothing.. and it shows in the US .. and soon in Canada where gasoline is also far too cheap and road tolling is just starting.