CONCRETE ROADS
Why Concrete Roads?
Asphalt roads are only good for ten years, dependent on the amount of traffic. Busier roads, such as Interstates, can greatly reduce the lifespan of traditional asphalt. Asphalt roads are porous, allowing rainwater to seep through, while this maintains traction in most cases, that water washes out the layers beneath asphalt roads, causing potholes that have to be constantly fixed. Asphalt also releases Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), a know carcinogen, that can lead to a myriad of health concerns from respiratory illness, such as asthma, to different forms of cancer. Victims of 9/11 and Veterans exposed to active burn pits are suffering from these exact symptoms due to VOC’s being released.
Concrete roads on the other hand, have a lifespan of fifty years before it starts losing integrity. It is a non-porous substance, which greatly reduces potholes, and most importantly, it is lighter in color.
That last part may not seem like a big deal, but this was before I started this project and ended up learning about the Albedo Effect and Urban Heat Islands.
Now imagine if those exact same roads were made of concrete. The naturally grayish-white color would reflect most of those rays and heat back up, effectively, in theory, keeping cities cooler, thus cooling the planet overall.