Why can't we have nice freeways in CA?
06-26-2013, 01:13 PM
#2
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I always hear about how horrific the roads in California are, particularly the LA area. I'm talking in terms of condition, not just logistics.
I don't understand that. I mean, I kind of get it in the northern states where you have freezing weather continually causing issues. In Florida, our roads are generally top notch from my perspective. Potholes are pretty rare and generally quickly patched. Our highways are in almost all in very good condition. Most of the worst roads to drive on are made that way intentionally by adding speed humps or brick pavers to slow down drivers.
Are California roads as shitty as I seem to think? If so, given the complete lack of snow and almost lack of rain or other weather that should cause serious deterioration... Why?
[Edit and on-topic: I approve of this measure.]
I don't understand that. I mean, I kind of get it in the northern states where you have freezing weather continually causing issues. In Florida, our roads are generally top notch from my perspective. Potholes are pretty rare and generally quickly patched. Our highways are in almost all in very good condition. Most of the worst roads to drive on are made that way intentionally by adding speed humps or brick pavers to slow down drivers.
Are California roads as shitty as I seem to think? If so, given the complete lack of snow and almost lack of rain or other weather that should cause serious deterioration... Why?
[Edit and on-topic: I approve of this measure.]
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06-26-2013, 02:01 PM
#4
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Not in my experience. In fact, the major highways in the more populous areas of SoCal (San Diego, LA, and points in between) are in excellent shape- both the interstates (I5, 8, I10, I15) and the state highways.
I honestly can't imagine why anyone would complain about the quality of the roads here, in terms of their physical condition. Yes, grooved concrete is a bit different from what most people are accustomed to, and some vehicles (esp. motorcycles with sticky tires) track it a tad, but you certainly don't see the sort of hellecious disrepair (potholes, eroded shoulders, etc) which is common with ashphalt highways in regions subjected to freezing and salting.
About the only structural "defect", if you can call it that, is that the pavement can be a tad wavy in some areas. This is just the nature of the beast when living in an area which is subjected to frequent earthquakes of moderate intensity. The ground itself does move around from time to time, and the surface of the roads moves with it.
When it gets really bad in one area, they always come out and re-grade it with a device that's sort of like a huge planer. This leaves a slightly rough surface behind, but it doesn't really cause any problems in terms of vehicle stability / control, it's just a tad noisy as the tires roll over it.
Now, the condition of the local streets varies greatly from one location to another, depending both on age and on the relative wealth (in terms of tax base) of the city. In many of the older neighborhoods of southern SD county, the local roads can be in fairly rough shape (cracks, unevenness, etc) due to a combination of old age, lack of maintenance, extremely high traffic volume, and seizemic activity. By comparison, the wealthier areas tend to have local roads which are in extremely good condition, and are re-graded and resurfaced at even the slightest hint of a problem. Here in Carlsbad, you could roller-skate down the streets.
I honestly can't imagine why anyone would complain about the quality of the roads here, in terms of their physical condition. Yes, grooved concrete is a bit different from what most people are accustomed to, and some vehicles (esp. motorcycles with sticky tires) track it a tad, but you certainly don't see the sort of hellecious disrepair (potholes, eroded shoulders, etc) which is common with ashphalt highways in regions subjected to freezing and salting.
About the only structural "defect", if you can call it that, is that the pavement can be a tad wavy in some areas. This is just the nature of the beast when living in an area which is subjected to frequent earthquakes of moderate intensity. The ground itself does move around from time to time, and the surface of the roads moves with it.
When it gets really bad in one area, they always come out and re-grade it with a device that's sort of like a huge planer. This leaves a slightly rough surface behind, but it doesn't really cause any problems in terms of vehicle stability / control, it's just a tad noisy as the tires roll over it.
Now, the condition of the local streets varies greatly from one location to another, depending both on age and on the relative wealth (in terms of tax base) of the city. In many of the older neighborhoods of southern SD county, the local roads can be in fairly rough shape (cracks, unevenness, etc) due to a combination of old age, lack of maintenance, extremely high traffic volume, and seizemic activity. By comparison, the wealthier areas tend to have local roads which are in extremely good condition, and are re-graded and resurfaced at even the slightest hint of a problem. Here in Carlsbad, you could roller-skate down the streets.
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06-26-2013, 02:09 PM
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Leave it to Joe to bring objective common sense to the topic. I totally forgot about seismic activity - it makes sense that would cause more trouble than heavy rains.
I was probably referring more to the local roads, like videos I have seen of Mulholland.
Or maybe I have no idea what I am talking about.
Either way, one more reason to never live where it snows. High five?
I was probably referring more to the local roads, like videos I have seen of Mulholland.
Or maybe I have no idea what I am talking about.
Either way, one more reason to never live where it snows. High five?
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06-26-2013, 06:09 PM
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Aiding and abbedding the mayhem was your lack of a location in your profile. For some reason, I thought you were in Texas, not California.
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06-26-2013, 06:36 PM
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I'm running amok.
I've always faulted Florida's roads because of the relatively soft aggregate used in the hot mix asphalt (HMA), the high plasticity of the limestone base material, and the sandy sub-base material. These conditions, combined with the increased plasticity of HMA when subjected to the common summertime temperatures at this latitude, yield entirely too much rutting and shoving of the pavement. Georgia, in contrast, has a significantly better quality interstate and state road system due to the ready availability of granite aggregate for HMA and base courses, and often the presence of good, hard clay sub-base.
I've always faulted Florida's roads because of the relatively soft aggregate used in the hot mix asphalt (HMA), the high plasticity of the limestone base material, and the sandy sub-base material. These conditions, combined with the increased plasticity of HMA when subjected to the common summertime temperatures at this latitude, yield entirely too much rutting and shoving of the pavement. Georgia, in contrast, has a significantly better quality interstate and state road system due to the ready availability of granite aggregate for HMA and base courses, and often the presence of good, hard clay sub-base.
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06-26-2013, 08:02 PM
#9
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So the link's text "Left-lane highway hogs could see fines double for failure to move over | NJ.com" wasn't descriptive enough for Scrappy?
P.S. the thread title is unfortunate, I was thinking of using the meme "..can't have nice things"...
P.S. the thread title is unfortunate, I was thinking of using the meme "..can't have nice things"...
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06-27-2013, 12:18 PM
#10
I hate left lane campers to no end. When I was heading home from Vlads a couple weeks ago there was a 45' RV cruising down 99 in the fast lane. Now 99 does go down to two lanes for fairly long stretches. But this stupid son of a bitch was in the fast line right out of the city where there seems to be 8 lanes in each direction. And the people that get passed by 15 cars to the right that all get back in front of them and they still don't get the hint should just have their license revoked. CA implemented a new law a couple years back of having to move over a lane, or slow down when you see emergency personal on the shoulder, IE; CHP, Cal Trans, etc... they don't even enforce that! I find myself changing lanes all the time, I actually signal I am moving into the fast lane, make the pass, and move back to the right lane.
Then there are the stupid ***** that are merging onto the freeway at stop and the end of the on ramp with their turn signal on!? That is not how you merge! Or, I like these ones better, they will get on the freeway jump across all lanes of traffic to get in the fast lane and camp, regardless of how fast they are going or how fast traffic is coming up on them.
/end rant.
Then there are the stupid ***** that are merging onto the freeway at stop and the end of the on ramp with their turn signal on!? That is not how you merge! Or, I like these ones better, they will get on the freeway jump across all lanes of traffic to get in the fast lane and camp, regardless of how fast they are going or how fast traffic is coming up on them.
/end rant.
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06-27-2013, 01:31 PM
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List of States: State "keep right" laws
Rick Scott doing work: http://www.news-press.com/article/20...-out-left-lane
Rick Scott doing work: http://www.news-press.com/article/20...-out-left-lane
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