It has been said that you cannot give people what they want unless you know what they want. To that end, a 2014 survey was conducted to ask drivers from all parts of the country what traits their roads needed to have. There were 14 possible attributes for drivers to rank, and the three most common priorities are described below.
1. Well-maintained roads were the number one priority for 84 percent of the drivers. They did, however, include a condition — that the work be performed so as to minimize rush-hour delays.
2. Safe roads were important to 56 percent of the people responding to the survey.
3. Approximately 69 percent of those surveyed stated that periodic delays for maintenance and repair were acceptable if a smoother, more comfortable ride resulted.
Furthermore, 86 percent of the drivers felt that spending available funds on keeping existing roads in good shape was more important that spending to construct new roads. More than 50 percent stated that they would be supportive of the expansion or introduction of initiatives to ensure funding for roads.
What is particularly telling about the survey results is that they underscore the reasons that, nationwide, 93 percent of the country’s roads incorporate asphalt pavement.
1. Asphalt is easy to repair and maintain. New asphalt has a short curing time, so closings are kept to a minimum. Most work can be done late at night or during other off-peak periods to minimize traffic disruptions. Concrete pavement requires much more time and traffic disruption to repair.
2. Asphalt roads are safer roads. They offer better traction when wet than concrete. They are also less prone to the types of damages that can cause a vehicle to veer from its path of travel.
3. Asphalt pavement is smoother than concrete and provides a more comfortable ride. A pavement’s smoothness is also a factor in achieving optimal gas mileage and reducing the wear-and-tear on tires and front-end parts.
That asphalt pavement is the best option for the nation’s roads comes as no surprise to the professionals at MH Greeson Paving. We are an asphalt maintenance and repair company serving the greater Atlanta area and most locations in North Georgia. Our crews pride themselves on delivering quality work at competitive prices, whether they are asked to sealcoat a parking lot, perform repairs or apply pavement markings. You can use our handy online form to ask for a free quote, or you can give us a call at 770-335-2983.
