Why isn't LA repaving streets? • Hacker News Board

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#241

Post by tbrownaw » Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 2:51 AM UTC

paxys wrote: post #190

deepsun wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've heard that cars have negligible impact on roads. 99% damage comes from heavy haul trucks, especially those who violate weight restrictions. By the way, I've never seen SCALES OPEN sign for the trucks, it's always SCALES CLOSED, or maybe I'm just extremely unlucky.

Well there aren’t semis driving down your neighborhood cul de sac (at least I hope not). Heavy trucks cause more damage to interstates and warehouse districts, yes, but that is what those roads are designed for. Most city roads meanwhile were never built to accommodate 9000 lb hummer tanks.

Most road damage here appears after events of the form "it rained and then the temperature crossed freezing twice a day for a week".

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#242

Post by roger110 » Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 2:53 AM UTC

The part about bike lanes is annoying. Whenever some city or district goes all in on bike lanes, the end result is almost nobody using those, and more congestion. It makes sense in like Manhattan.

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#243

Post by lyu07282 » Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 3:08 AM UTC

veryemartguy wrote: post #195

veryemartguy wrote: post #77

We’re too busy paying billions of dollars to LAPD to do jack shit but cost the city tens of millions in liability payouts.

Downvoted for the truth but it’s ok, I actually live in LA unlike most of the LLMs here.

Well you are the only person in this entire thread that even mentioned anything that would even be remotely threatening to people in power: Reducing funding to police who's only role it is to hold together society breaking apart on the seams by a structure that everybody internalized is as naturally true as gravity.

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#244

Post by dh2022 » Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 3:10 AM UTC

smetj wrote: post #72

t1234s wrote: post #55

I think they built the majority of the Eisenhower Interstate System in 15 years. Now we cant figure out how to pave roads.

red tape, regulations, corruption, low pay, inflated prices, a gamed system. Although the topic is unrelated, I came across this the other day ... makes one think https://youtu.be/JTEJH-tKv9Q?t=910

They retrofit Yorktown in 3 days instead of 3 months. The Japanese thought Yorktown was a different aircraft carrier-they could not imagine such a fast retrofit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Yorktown_(CV-5)#Battle_of_...

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#245

Post by vrosas » Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 3:14 AM UTC

atleastoptimal wrote: post #52

stock_toaster wrote: post #38

Maybe roads would last longer if we weren't all being forced to buy super heavy SUVs just so automakers can skirt emissions and fuel economy requirements. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPm4de6-eTg

People buy SUV's because they want to avoid being injured in crashes (at the detriment of the other driver)

This is definitely true. I do not currently know a single woman who DOESN'T drive an SUV and the answer I've heard more than once is just that they feel safer. The problem is, they're not wrong. But it's a spiraling problem - more big cars make the roads less safe which prompts more people to buy big cars...

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#246

Post by charlie90 » Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 3:17 AM UTC

t1234s wrote: post #55

I think they built the majority of the Eisenhower Interstate System in 15 years. Now we cant figure out how to pave roads.

Its easy to build when your goal is just to build the thing. But theres so much code and regulation crap (like ADA). I know someone building a small residential home, they have literally 1000s of pages of documents to be submitted for every tiny thing you can imagine. Regulations have completely spiraled out of control in this country. Nobody is keeping any of them in check.

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#247

Post by paradox460 » Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 3:18 AM UTC

cyberrock wrote: post #188

stock_toaster wrote: post #38

Maybe roads would last longer if we weren't all being forced to buy super heavy SUVs just so automakers can skirt emissions and fuel economy requirements. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPm4de6-eTg

Even if it were caused by passenger cars, the skyrocketing brightness of lights at sedan height probably push more people to buy large cars than this. In a just world, cars with ridiculously bright lights would be crushed in a monster car rally. Alas the cops don't even pull them over.

The cops are some of the worst offenders. Drive past an accident and the blue lights are so bright you'll have after images for hours

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#248

Post by vrosas » Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 3:20 AM UTC

smetj wrote: post #72

t1234s wrote: post #55

I think they built the majority of the Eisenhower Interstate System in 15 years. Now we cant figure out how to pave roads.

red tape, regulations, corruption, low pay, inflated prices, a gamed system. Although the topic is unrelated, I came across this the other day ... makes one think https://youtu.be/JTEJH-tKv9Q?t=910

People do impressive things when the enemy is literally bearing down on them.

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#249

Post by bradlys » Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 3:22 AM UTC

The last time this topic was posted, it was pointed out that LA specifically says it'll cost $50k+ to do one ADA complaint corner of a sidewalk. $50k - that's during the repaving... Not come back and do it. Explain it however you want but a cutout on a corner of a sidewalk doesn't cost $50k unless you got something fishy going on...

There's very blatant corruption within LA's government and no accountability. Your average American (which LA is full of) is too stupid to do anything about these issues.

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#250

Post by vrosas » Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 3:22 AM UTC

dh2022 wrote: post #244

smetj wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

red tape, regulations, corruption, low pay, inflated prices, a gamed system. Although the topic is unrelated, I came across this the other day ... makes one think https://youtu.be/JTEJH-tKv9Q?t=910

They retrofit Yorktown in 3 days instead of 3 months. The Japanese thought Yorktown was a different aircraft carrier-they could not imagine such a fast retrofit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Yorktown_(CV-5)#Battle_of_...

It was 2 days, and they thought it was a different ship because they thought the Yorktown was sunk in the previous battle, not because they didn't think it could be repaired that fast (although that's probably also true).