3 Ways to Maintain a Road
Roads are an integral part of life. We drive on them, walk on them and use them for almost all aspects of our daily routine. Although roads provide a modicum of convenience in our lives, they also come with hazards. Roads can be damaged by many different factors and require special maintenance to avoid sinking into the ground or getting washed away in floods. In this article, you will learn about the maintenance which should be carried out to prevent damage to a road.
Ensuring drainage channels are clear
Most roads have drainage channels to prevent water from accumulating at the bottom. Clearing drains will prevent any blockages, which may affect the water flow in a drain. This will help to ensure that water can flow away efficiently and any excess water can be drained into other sections of the road. If not carried out, this duty could result in flooding, which may cause further damage to a road surface or surrounding environment as well as present a hazard to drivers. High volumes of water flowing onto a road surface will also increase the risk of erosion where the top layer is eroded by flowing water.
Checking for subsidence
Sinking can occur due to the compaction of soft, wet soil. The surrounding subsoil and groundwater levels should be carefully monitored to ensure that sunken roads are not a hazard to road users. Extra care should be taken in areas where construction is taking place as such activity can cause subsidence. If subsidence is detected, measures can be taken to reinforce the road and the surrounding ground before serious damage occurs.
Resurfacing the roadway
The wear and tear of tyres will eventually cause the surface of any road to deteriorate. A key part of maintaining a road is to resurface the roadway before potholes or other damage occurs. Heavy traffic can cause bends to fail due to prolonged pressure on the road surface. This will result in slow down due to the dips or bumps built into a bend. Regular resurfacing of these sections will help prevent damage occurring over time and, if necessary, speed up repair time by reducing disruption from heavy traffic. Regular inspections will allow you to monitor the condition of the road surface so you can deploy resurfacing contractors before any damage occurs.
If you would like to find out more, contact a local road maintenance service today.