Why is it so expensive and is there an alternative out there that won’t break so easily especially in the winter? My state is spending like a billion dollars a year on roads that they’ll probably have to fix in 5 years, it really seems like a huge waste of money.

Good Public transportation would fix a lot of these costs I know but what other road materials/solutions are out there?

Thank you for the answers and for putting up with my follow up questions. I’m learning a lot!

  • reddig33@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Asphalt with recycled plastic waste mixed in reportedly holds up stronger. But people are freaked out about microplastics so it probably won’t happen. The irony is that the majority of road microplastics actually come from tires.

    • LifeOfChance@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      My town did a bunch of side roads with that stuff and maybe they cut corners but all of the roads did horrible. It only took a year and they’re so messed up people wait in the long lines of traffic on the main roads to avoid them. In comparison the state roads were done at the same time and have been fine 5 years later. Obviously this is just one man’s limited view on this and there’s likely research that shows better results elsewhere.