On January 4 my interest in flawed and cracking concrete was aroused by a front (full) page newspaper article.
Since then, I’ve read more articles about cracking concrete, and watched a 3-hour tv show on the subject.
Why are our concrete highways, airport runways and parking lots needing so much repair?
I thought surely university thinkers, scientists and homegrown thinkers could figure out how to make long-lasting concrete.
However, like many of my thoughts, this one too was faulty.
A runway at Detroit Metro is being rebuilt because of deteriorating concrete. Of course the first thing they did at this project was apply for a grant.
Cracking concrete is a freezing and thawing problem across Michigan and the upper US.
Another Metro $25-million runway built to last 30 years in 2001 started forming cracks in three years.
A major road contractor in Michigan is building some concrete roads seven inches deep, as opposed to the usual 12 inches, then they apply two inches of asphalt over that first layer. When deteriorating starts they scoop up that stuff, remelt it and lay it back down.
Of course, experiments have been tried with laboratory made chemicals mixed in the concrete.
Larry Sutter, director of MDOT’s Transportation Materials Research Center at Michigan Technological University in Houghton says there is no one overwhelming factor that causes pavement deterioration.
He believes inadequate funding for road maintenance in Michigan being demanded by the traveling public is a major problem. Pour more money at it.
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Tax refunds are in season, and will be until April 2014. Tax refunds are loved by many, and disliked by even more. The average refund from the Internal Revenue Service is $2,800.
Sounds good, but it’s just a case of our government taking more than they needed to so they could feel smug when they brag about returning it to us.
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Smile!
Classifieds from United Kingdom newspapers:
Free Yorkshire Terrier. 8 years old; hateful little bastard. Bites!
Free Puppies: 1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbor’s dog.
Free puppies: Mother is a Kennel Club registered German Shepherd. Father is a Super Dog, able to leap tall fences in a single bound.
Cows, Calves: never bred. Also one gay bull for sale.