At first glance, roads would look to be very durable and hard to damage, after all they are made of pavement which would seem to be one of the most solid substances anywhere. Nevertheless, in reality, the smallest things can cause the biggest damage to the roadways—especially over time. Erosion is the act of soil, rock or other material washing away from one part of the ground and moving elsewhere. This is normally a geology term describing the movement of dirt or earth being washed away. However, erosion affects roadways too.
At first glance, roads would look to be very durable and hard to damage, after all they are made of pavement which would seem to be one of the most solid substances anywhere. Nevertheless, in reality, the smallest things can cause the biggest damage to the roadways—especially over time. Erosion is the act of soil, rock or other material washing away from one part of the ground and moving elsewhere. This is normally a geology term describing the movement of dirt or earth being washed away. However, erosion affects roadways too.One of the biggest causes of erosion on roadways is seasonal weather. In many areas, the weather is vastly different in each of the four seasons. While each season offers its own challenge, the biggest issue occurs when the seasons occur one after the other—each season building on the changes the previous season created. While the four seasons are certainly not the same in every part of the country, take a look at the “typical” weather patterns that occur each season and how they affect roadway erosion.
Winter – There are multiple ways that winter weather can cause erosion. When water fills small cracks in roadways, then freezes it expands—causing larger cracks and further erosion of roadways. On gravel roads the freezing temperatures can cause an upward swelling of soil and create frost heaves. However, one of the biggest erosion issues is a “manmade” problem. When salt and other product is put on the road to clear the ice, this will often damage the road and cause it to break down. However, the risk/reward ratio is beneficial enough that these products must still be used in many cases.
Spring – Spring is particularly tricky in some parts of the country because there is often still cold weather, to include ice, but plenty of rain and even warm days. The constant flip-flopping of weather is particularly damaging to the roads. With heavier than usual rain, debris from off-road may wear away at the road surface too. The one benefit is that sometimes salt and other product is washed away a little faster than it would be during other seasons. In rural areas this is also know as “mud season”, and a heavily trafficked gravel road can be reduced to a bumpy, rutted, and sometimes impassable mess.
Summer – The hot weather can be a cause of small cracks and damage to the roadway. This is consistent throughout most parts of the country. What isn’t consistent is the amount of rain received. In rainy climates, summer is a prime time for big storms with wind, hail and other damaging issues. These cause the expected erosion issues. The other extreme can be just as bad. Extremely dry conditions cause the road to dry out and become more brittle and susceptible to damage.
Fall – While temperatures are usually at their mildest in fall, one issue that is surprisingly serious involves leaves. When leaves fall, especially if they are damp, and stick to the road for long periods of time, they can make the road more brittle and likely to become damaged. Also, in some parts of the country, fall can be hurricane season—these storms are a serious hazard to roadways and can wash away huge chunks of ground.
As you can see, each season offers a different challenge. Even when the weather seems reasonably mild, there are issues at work, causing erosion to damage the road slowly. This is the reason why department of transportation and private road construction crews around the country have such a big job. Road erosion is not going away—it is something that must simply be monitored and maintained to assure drivers stay safe and that roads are kept in the best possible condition.
Free Rural Erosion Control Case Study!
A free case on how one town's road conditions improved while requiring less maintenance by using Tensar TriAx Geogrid. This case study includes:
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