Paving roads with concrete
published: Monday | July 3, 2006

THE EDITOR, Sir:

IT IS time to examine the feasibility of paving roads with concrete. A significant advantage is its resistance to environmental degradation, e.g., water damage. Government should consider using concrete to pave some sections of the Bog Walk gorge road to reduce the scouring it suffers every year. A concrete road's resistance to potholing and its generally low maintenance requirements and long life might make it economically attractive. Another advantage of concrete surfaces is that they reflect more light than asphalt roads, aiding visibility in night driving and improve the effectiveness of street lighting.

What of the disadvantages? The principal one is its cost compared with asphalt. This differential varies between countries and the economics of it would have to be established on a country by country basis. Here in Jamaica, we already use concrete paving to a limited extent in fordings and gully crossings, a tacit acknowledgement of concrete's greater hardiness and suitability for extreme situations. Perhaps, the Cement Company could be interested in paving a piece of heavily travelled roadway to demonstrate concrete's advantages for road surfacing.

I am, etc.,

MICHAEL NICHOLSON

P.O. Box 5171

Kingston 6