Just like everything else, regular use of the roads leads to wear. No matter how thorough a contractor was while building a structure, it may be impossible to avoid the development of potholes here and there. While that may be the case, negligence is not the answer. Preserving and maintaining any roadway and roadside structure is essential. Remember that roads are the backbone of any economy. This means if they are impassable, then the ability to conduct business smoothly will be impaired. Operations at highway facilities need to be at the optimum at all times. Here are the types of road maintenance solutions aimed at ensuring that the roads remain intact.
- Emergency maintenance
As the name suggests, this kind of maintenance is not pre-planned. Emergency maintenance is called for when roadway infrastructure is damaged as a result of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. Such events are unpredictable, and there is only little one can do to protect the roads from them. Note that heavy rains can cause mudslides. It is not uncommon for hurricanes to disrupt the transportation system. Such events call for emergency road repairs. It does not matter how good the road was before the calamity; it has to be fixed.
- Preventative maintenance
You have probably experienced flat tires, bent rims, or even suspension damage. The culprit for all that is usually potholes. Not only can potholes damage your car, but they can also cause accidents. Road management authorities know very well the implications of unmaintained roads, and that’s why they conduct regular inspection and identify areas that need to be patched up.
Thermoplastic pothole repair can go a long way in keeping the roads working as intended. Preventative maintenance might also eliminate the need for emergency maintenance: regular inspection lengthens the life of the roads by preventing small problems from developing into big ones. Preventative maintenance includes activities such as crack sealing to prevent extensive damage and seeping of water into the roads. Together with dig outs and chip sealing, crack sealing has been found to extend the life of a highway by five years.
As much as there is the option of repaving or fixing roads after damage, it is essential to avoid incurring the costs attached due to mere negligence.
- Reactive maintenance
As the name suggests, this kind of maintenance takes place after damage occurs. This case is different from that of emergency maintenance. It is a reaction to an existing issue, that hadn’t been noticed. This covers potholes, cracks, drainage problems, among other issues that are yet to be addressed. Again, the best example to be provided would be potholes. If not patched up, they get bigger and cause more damage. Reactive maintenance is not necessary; it should be applied only if the issue hadn’t been identified. It is more costly, and it is never safe to let roads stay open with potholes and crack over longer periods of time.
Preventive maintenance is encouraged as it ensures that the roads are in good condition at all times and also increases their life.
