Road Surface - Gravel and Unsurfaced Roads

Gravel and Unsurfaced Roads

See also: gravel road and dirt road

Many low-volume roads are not paved or treated, and instead are surfaced with gravel. Dirt roads are roads where traffic runs on the soil native to the location. The traffic volume that unsurfaced roads can carry varies on traffic, soil and weather conditions.

The decision whether to pave a road or not often hinges on traffic volume. It has been found that maintenance costs for gravel roads often exceed the maintenance costs for paved or surface treated roads when traffic volumes exceed 200 vehicles per day.

Some communities are finding it makes sense to convert their low volume paved roads to aggregate surfaces.

Read more about this topic:  Road Surface

Famous quotes containing the words gravel and, gravel and/or roads:

    ‘Lay me a green sod under my head,
    And another at my feet;
    And lay my bent bow at my side,
    Which was my music sweet;
    And make my grave of gravel and green,
    Which is most right and meet.
    —Unknown. Robin Hood’s Death (l. 65–70)

    ‘Lay me a green sod under my head,
    And another at my feet;
    And lay my bent bow at my side,
    Which was my music sweet;
    And make my grave of gravel and green,
    Which is most right and meet.
    —Unknown. Robin Hood’s Death (l. 65–70)

    This, my first [bicycle] had an intrinsic beauty. And it opened for me an era of all but flying, which roads emptily crossing the airy, gold-gorsy Common enhanced. Nothing since has equalled that birdlike freedom.
    Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973)