More potholes than road?
Submitted by Ed on Thu, 2008-04-03 07:47.
SA roads are in a terrible state. This is what you could conclude if
you've read readers' letters sent to popular publications and many
places on the internet. You've probably experienced it yourself as
well.
What even causes them? The high rainfall that we've been
experiencing is definitely a huge factor. Rain (or indeed the
mysterious water streams in built-up areas that have no clear source)
acts as an erosive agent. Added to that is the fact that there are just
a lot of cars (including overload ones) on the roads and a high 72% of
the SA road network is over 20 years old.
What irritates people is not that it happens but that the roads aren't
maintained. Also, signs that warn you of impending potholes adds to the
general digruntlement. If they know about them, why not fix them,
right?
Well the JRA (Johannesburg Roads Agency) works towards minimising this
problem. Some of the ways they plan to do that is to make use of media
channels to increase effective communication with the public and to
work with the Metro Police to clamp down on overloaded vehicles.
This problem is not unique to this country. Los Angeles, for example, is known for its sizeable potholes.
Do you think that enough is being done to solve this pothole problem? Tarred
roads are fantastic but are they really the best solution for our local
climate? Please leave a comment.
Source: Joburg.za - Emily Visser
Photo: Flickr
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Potholes in Krugersdorp or around Gauteng
I am doing a project on potholes for Geography and was hoping you can send me information all about potholes and how they form with pictures?? I hope to hear from you again help would be appreciated
Thanks
David
RE: Potholes in Krugersdorp or around Gauteng
Hi David,
Try the following:
Google is your friend :)
potholes
I am doing a investigative research project on potholes at tertiary level and would like any information you might have available on the causes, budget and stratergies that could be taken
Forming of potholes
Normally it starts with cracks in the tarred surface. Water enters and mixes with the soil/cement base and causes it to loosen is hardness. The tarr itself starts deforming and the structure between the tarr and granite particels starts to break. With every wheel rolling over it (overloaded vehicles accelarate the process), granite particels start coming loose and lifts. The next wheel through it off and a tiny hole on the tarred surface starts. The next wheel break another piece and through it off. This hole gets bigger and deeper until you have a pothole.
potholes effects on cars
I'm doing a research on potholes, and would appreciate any information you have regarding the causes,cost and dangers of potholes specifically on cars.
RE Potholes
Potholes definately have an effect on cars. Tyres and rims can be damaged, wheel alignmnet could be unset and it causes uneccesary wear on shock absorbers
Daisy
Finally, my high revving corolla, this is a testking 000-025 frustrating one. i live in pta and work in jhb, this car gives me excellent consumption ie around 14.5km/l to work and back. however my commute to durban is a different story, at speed of 140km/h, the car is screaming for a 6th gear (unfortunately 6 speed only available in 1.8petrol and 2.0diesel), so this car sits on testking 640-863 around 4 400 rpm. here my consumption drops to 12 km/l. needless to say, my old corolla albeit a bit under powered (it was a 1.6 auto) got better consumption and made it to dbn in a one tank of fuel (3/4 tank to be precise), the new one doesn't even come close ie the reserve light/alert comes on testking HP0-J19 entering Marianhill.
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