ISLAND VOICES
Here's how to fix our roads

By Bruce Swafford
Retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Let's forget what hasn't been done to keep our roads in good condition and look what can be done. For over two decades, most every state, county and municipality in our U.S.A. has used the mentality of waiting for the roads to break down before fixing them.

In doing so, it wasn't long before their funds ran out each year and weren't able to accomplish the necessary maintenance. Some of the Mainland DOTs realized that the name of the game is "pavement restoration" — in other words, protect what you have and you will have money to do major repairs and build additional roads when needed. Here is how to have quality pavement and not waste valuable tax dollars:

• Potholes: Change your method of repair from temporary to permanent. This can be accomplished with very little effort and time. Sweep out all debris from the hole with a stiff bristle broom, then place the asphalt material into the hole and level off with shovel. Using a small vibratory pan compactor, make two to three passes for shallow patches and four to five passes for deeper patches. This way you have a well-compacted asphalt patch that will prevent water from entering the road structure and last as long as, if not longer than, the surrounding pavement.

• Inspection: Starting now, inspect roads that were repaved in the past eight to 10 years. If surface defects such as cracking are occurring and these are roads where the maximum speed limit is up to 35 mph, consider an asphalt seal coat. There are several different types of sealing available, and DOT engineers should be able to make the selections necessary. By sealing the road surface, water will not get into the road structure and it will give you at least three or five years more of good road life. Think pavement preservation.

• Training in pavement preservation: The DOTs of the state and counties, military engineers, private-sector engineers and paving contractors need to get together and discuss the subject of a joint training session. The state and counties need to take the lead. The Asphalt Institute will gladly set up a training program here in Honolulu if they are approached. They will provide leading experts in the field of pavement preservation. The Asphalt Institute is only a phone call away, and the number is (859) 288-4960.

• Quality: Never forsake quality when doing road preservation, repairs or new construction. If you do, then you are wasting our tax dollars.