The road to hell is paved with asphalt
A critique of asphalt roads that idealizes cobblestone and brick surfaces prompts a broader examination of how different paving materials perform in the real world. Commenters highlight engineering trade‑offs: asphalt is cheap, highly recyclable, smooth, quiet and safer at speed, but degrades under heavy loads and freeze–thaw cycles; modular pavers and cobblestones can be beautiful and long‑lasting in light-traffic, temperate, or pedestrian areas but are noisy, slippery, hard on vehicles and cyclists, and difficult to plow or maintain under modern traffic. Many argue concrete or asphalt-over-concrete are more realistic long-term options, especially as oil byproducts and climate concerns change the economics of road building.
Overall framing: trade-offs, not “asphalt bad”
- Many argue the article compares apples to oranges (busy asphalt roads vs quiet pedestrian streets; modern highways vs ancient Roman routes) and ignores engineering trade-offs.
- Consensus that no surface is universally best; choice depends on traffic type, climate, subsoil, maintenance budgets, and desired speeds.
- Several note the author seems to underestimate complexity in civil engineering and overstate how poorly professionals account for long-term and non-monetary costs.
Asphalt vs. cobblestone/pavers in use
- Asphalt praised for:
- Smoothness, comfort, and quietness (especially when new).
- Safety at higher speeds and in heavy rain; good grip, works well with ABS.
- Ease and speed of installation and resurfacing, especially with modern machinery.
- Cobblestone/pavers criticized for:
- Slipperiness when wet/icy; multiple cyclists and motorcyclists describe crashes or near-misses.
- Harshness on suspensions, bikes, and buses; noisy and uncomfortable.
- Stones shifting, sinking, or popping out if drainage or base is poor; very problematic under bus/truck traffic.
- Some like modular surfaces to intentionally slow cars and improve streetscapes, but many say that speed reduction is unacceptable for most through-roads.
Climate, subsoil, and maintenance
- Freeze–thaw cycles, frost heave, and poor drainage are cited as main causes of potholes and warping, regardless of surface.
- Snow plowing is highlighted as a key constraint: plows damage asphalt edges and would likely rip up pavers; specialized equipment and techniques for cobblestones are mentioned but seem niche and climate-dependent.
- Unclear how well cobblestones can be kept serviceable in harsh winter regions.
Costs, recyclability, and materials
- Asphalt seen as cheapest overall for many roads even with ~15-year resurfacing; modular pavers considered most expensive to build and maintain.
- Several point out asphalt is highly recyclable; others note statistics may only cover reclaimed material, not what’s left in place.
- Concrete proposed as a more realistic alternative for heavy truck routes, but is noisier, less flexible, and harder to recycle.
- Some discuss future constraints: asphalt relies on bitumen, a refinery byproduct; if fossil fuel refining declines, asphalt may become costlier. Others question whether refining will actually decline soon.
- Early-stage ideas like algae-based binders (“bioasphalt”) are noted but not deeply discussed.
Heavy vehicles, EVs, and road wear
- Multiple comments reference the “fourth power law”: road damage scaling strongly with axle weight, making heavy trucks the dominant source of wear.
- Debate over how much extra wear heavier EVs cause vs. similar-class ICE vehicles; general agreement that very heavy vehicles (trucks, big SUVs) are the main problem.
Aesthetics and livability
- Many agree that streets and public infrastructure should consider beauty, not just spreadsheet costs.
- Yet a strong undercurrent says aesthetics cannot override safety, comfort, and practicality for everyday mobility, especially for cyclists and motorcyclists.