Answers to Those Construction Questions

Ever wonder, when you’re sitting in snakes of summer road construction traffic, the street before you a mess of orange cones and fluorescent-shirted workers, exactly WHY you’re sitting there?

I mean, what are they doing? Besides making you late to work?

For those of you wondering what exactly is going on while you are waiting your turn to finally get through the nearest stoplight and on your way, here are a few answers to what’s happening outside your window:

Why are they off to the side of the road? What’s in the grass over there and what does it have to do with the lane that’s closed? Even if workers are off to the side of the road, it is common to close a lane to provide a safe work environment. If you see crews working underground—either off to the side or along the road—they are likely relocating utility lines (phone, cable, underground electric, fiber optics, natural gas, waterlines, etc.) or placing storm sewer. These utilities could also be located under the road itself.

Why do they only remove the top couple of inches of pavement? Why not replace it all? When the road is ground down a few inches, road crews are performing a “mill and overlay.” The condition of the existing pavement dictates whether maintenance or complete replacement is required to return the road to satisfactory condition. A road in need of maintenance is milled down several inches and new asphalt is overlaid on top. Mill and overlay is more cost-effective and takes much less time than complete replacement.

Why can I drive over a bridge if they’re working on the other side? Isn’t that unsafe? If a bridge is open to one lane of traffic while a crew is working on the other, the bridge is structurally sound. Crews are probably re-decking, patching areas of deteriorated concrete or repairing girders or supports under the deck. Engineers confirm the structural integrity of the bridge before and during maintenance to ensure it is satisfactory for travel.

The article I read said they were supposed to finish here last week. Why are they still working? Weather, utility conflicts and unanticipated field conditions, such as geotechnical surprises—all can affect the schedule.

Why are they working on this road anyway? The one a mile down has huge potholes and cracked curb. Funding sources and projected growth patterns or safety concerns such as sight-distance issues or poor drainage can affect why one street or bridge is chosen for reconstruction/rehabilitation over another. Municipalities maintain an annual road maintenance programs that prioritizes those areas most in need of attention.