I didn't know what purpose they served but I can tell you they are nasty if you hit them with their bike at speed; almost had a serious accident when moving out of the lane and over to the narrow shoulder to let cars by me pass (this was on a small 2-lane road through a pass, not a highway of course), didn't realize how deep the dents were and almost lost control of my bike
What are those dents in I-90 outside Seattle?
51–60 of 137 posts
Re: What are those dents in I-90 outside Seattle?
#52Earlier quoted context omitted.
If a Wikipedia page about a technological topic (so not a person, place etc) has a very few languages available (in this case 2) then it always makes me wonder how other countries in the World solve the same issue. This seems like a very US thing for example but maybe I’m wrong
My understanding is that concrete is generally not used for highways in Canada because it doesn't hold up well in the yearly freeze-thaw cycle that the majority of the country experiences. Asphalt is used as it is more flexible, and also easier to repair (generally just filling cracks with tar) when the inevitable frost heave damage occurs. Concrete is more durable (but it still needs to be maintained) and that is pr…
Maybe this is true. But honestly, we don't have that many roads in the PNW that are concrete. It was when I lived in the midwest that I noticed them everywhere. I really don't care for them. In the PNW we have relatively few, but the weather here is milder than the midwest. Not sure what that says about the freeze-thaw hypothesis.
Re: What are those dents in I-90 outside Seattle?
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
If a Wikipedia page about a technological topic (so not a person, place etc) has a very few languages available (in this case 2) then it always makes me wonder how other countries in the World solve the same issue. This seems like a very US thing for example but maybe I’m wrong
Until now, I wasn't aware USA makes highways with concrete. As far as I know, in Poland vast majority of paved roads is made with asphalt, rarely bricks.
The vast majority of paved roads in the US are asphalt.
Re: What are those dents in I-90 outside Seattle?
#54Earlier quoted context omitted.
If a Wikipedia page about a technological topic (so not a person, place etc) has a very few languages available (in this case 2) then it always makes me wonder how other countries in the World solve the same issue. This seems like a very US thing for example but maybe I’m wrong
My understanding is that concrete is generally not used for highways in Canada because it doesn't hold up well in the yearly freeze-thaw cycle that the majority of the country experiences. Asphalt is used as it is more flexible, and also easier to repair (generally just filling cracks with tar) when the inevitable frost heave damage occurs. Concrete is more durable (but it still needs to be maintained) and that is pr…
That's funny, my understanding was the exact opposite,that concrete was used more frequently in the northern US states because it can be plowed, where asphalt is cheaper but easily damaged.
Re: What are those dents in I-90 outside Seattle?
#55I haven't seen these in a decade but I knew what they were talking about instantly. I used to wonder what they were all the time. I sure didn't expect to get an answer randomly on the HN front page. They did a really good job installing these. They look like they would be bumpy but I never felt them at all.
Similarly, I'm always impressed by how smooth the ashpalt highways in Toronto are, even though they are spiderwebbed with cracks absolutely everywhere. That's because the cracks are filled each spring with some sort of sealant. They make a regular slapping sound as the tires pass over them, but cannot be felt.
We have the same thing on our neighborhood asphalt roads. It's a noisy day every few years when they do it. One truck idles up the road with a big air compressor and a guy walking along behind it with an air nozzle on a stick, blasting anything loose out of the crack. It's pretty loud, predictably. Then a little ways behind him comes another guy with a tank of tar filling the cracks. Every few years on an alternating schedule they put a liquid asphalt coating over the top of the whole thing.
It's not the most beautiful thing, but it's smooth.
I'm 97.92% sure they don't actually do this because it's better. It's cheaper than resurfacing -- then they drive along with a big machine that grinds off the top few inches of asphalt, crushes it up, adds tar, and puts it back down to be rolled.
Re: What are those dents in I-90 outside Seattle?
#56Man, reading this format does not make me miss forums. It's easy to opine for the "internet of old", but I for one do not miss having to post a car problem to a Ford Escort message board and maybe getting an answer after 3 days of being told I am an idiot.
That happens, of course, but I still have a couple of forums I go to which get good traffic and have much better information and advice than the Reddit version.
Re: What are those dents in I-90 outside Seattle?
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
The submitted URL was https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-dents-in-i-... but our software replaced it with https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-dents-in-i-... because that's what the page says is its canonical URL. I've reverted it now.
But the top comment at the /30 URL is not the actual answer either...
Yep. Hilariously it was literally the first reply, which was promptly ignored by everyone.
https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-dents-in-i-...
Re: What are those dents in I-90 outside Seattle?
#58A little funny to not link to the comment that had the answer — they're dowel bar retrofits. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowel_bar_retrofit
If a Wikipedia page about a technological topic (so not a person, place etc) has a very few languages available (in this case 2) then it always makes me wonder how other countries in the World solve the same issue. This seems like a very US thing for example but maybe I’m wrong
Australia is Asphalt for suburban and urban roads or compacted gravel for the majority of remote roads.
Driving on concrete roads when I visited the USA was an eye opening experience on just how bad they are for road noise and comfort.
Re: What are those dents in I-90 outside Seattle?
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
My understanding is that concrete is generally not used for highways in Canada because it doesn't hold up well in the yearly freeze-thaw cycle that the majority of the country experiences. Asphalt is used as it is more flexible, and also easier to repair (generally just filling cracks with tar) when the inevitable frost heave damage occurs. Concrete is more durable (but it still needs to be maintained) and that is pr…
Maybe this is true. But honestly, we don't have that many roads in the PNW that are concrete. It was when I lived in the midwest that I noticed them everywhere . I really don't care for them. In the PNW we have relatively few, but the weather here is milder than the midwest. Not sure what that says about the freeze-thaw hypothesis.
I live in Seattle and almost every single road I drive on is at least concrete base.
Even if I couldn't tell for other reasons, I've seen enough sections replaced for water or gas line maintenance; I've never seen one without concrete, from my side street all the way to the freeway.
Re: What are those dents in I-90 outside Seattle?
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
The US interstate moves insane numbers of huge ass-trucks that weight one billion metric pounds each or something. Anything less than airport-grade concrete dies instantly, and then dies again when it invariably freezes to -40° Kelvin, because fuck physics when shit gets cold.
The reason for the interstate trucks is the taxation system that punishes railroads for owning their right-of-way. The trucks cause by far the most damage to the highways, but taxpayers subsidize that with the gas tax. Trucks also do not pay property tax on the highways. Long haul freight should be done by loading the semi's trailer onto a flat car, and picking it up near the destination. Another myopic government de…
Can the efficiency of trains and trucks be quantified? It might make your argument stronger