Across the United States, November temperatures were at an all-time low. Many states faced the coldest temperatures they’d felt in years. Along with the cold air came record breaking amounts of snow, with Buffalo, NY capping out at 88 inches or just over 7 feet. Even stranger than the nationwide record lows, though, is the increase in temperatures for December. Though a warmer December may sound like good news to many, it spells trouble for road conditions.
Repeated spells of cold and warm do serious damage to roads, creating need for asphalt repair. Referred to as the freeze-thaw cycle, water freezes and expands inside of cracks in the road and forms more cracks. When temperatures warm up, water running through the cracks and vehicles driving over the weak pavement will create a pothole. So, multiple fluctuating winter temperatures can lead to costly road damage.
Some contributing factors include:
• Weight of vehicles on road
• Pre-existing conditions
• Pavement age
• Snow and ice removal methods
This year may mirror last year’s winter weather and the subsequent damage done to roads. Plus, the unprecedented colds in southern areas will create poor road conditions that will affect more areas of the country than usual. This damage affects cities and individuals alike. Asphalt repair is very costly for municipalities to fix, especially because they often become repeat jobs that need repaired multiple times. For drivers, potholes are more than just annoying. The can rack up hundreds of dollars worth of damage to tires and tire rims.
Ultimately, the best solution to winter road damage is an asphalt repair product that can last through years of freeze-thaw cycle damage. Learn more about Unique Paving Material’s cold mix asphalt repair solutions, which can be applied during winter weather.
