tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post3758764035135983046..comments2024-03-28T21:38:40.389-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Should Lehigh Valley Start DePaving Roads? Bernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-13521362933182901732016-08-01T09:46:50.765-04:002016-08-01T09:46:50.765-04:00Dust is a problem, yes. It can be minimized with b...Dust is a problem, yes. It can be minimized with brine or oil. HORRORS! (Not so; oil is a naturally occurring substance. Used wisely, it has minimal effect on the environment. Oil has seeped into western Pa. streams naturally for centuries.) And ruts or holes can be easily controlled with a twice-monthly pass by a road grader. We did this for a half-century. Erosion is a problem on hilly surfaces, not so much on level ones.<br />Denny from Brookvillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14845027726505807893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-24703884112471672352016-07-30T18:28:13.777-04:002016-07-30T18:28:13.777-04:00The dust cloud is a problem. No question there are...The dust cloud is a problem. No question there are cons.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-51778049280042259992016-07-30T16:34:04.064-04:002016-07-30T16:34:04.064-04:00I spend a lot of time for work in Susquehanna coun...I spend a lot of time for work in Susquehanna county and upstate NY. Most roads with only a few houses on them are dirt/gravel but are still well maintained with a smooth surface. Unfortunately a lot of them end in abrupt dead-ends despite what GPS says, but so be it. There are few, but still some roads I feel should be maintained in this manner in the Lehigh Valley. Roads like Constitution Drive in Allentown (you only drive down that road if you are trying to illegally dump) or Wilson Ave as Bernie mentioned. The only issue I notice in those areas with dirt/gravel roads is that in dry times, a passing car leaves a giant dust cloud.Jamesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-84983547834972348082016-07-30T08:33:16.284-04:002016-07-30T08:33:16.284-04:00Bernie @3:51,
The folks who live on Wilson Avenue ...Bernie @3:51,<br />The folks who live on Wilson Avenue would certainly disagree with you. Could you imagine trying to plow snow off of a dirt road? By spring, it would be impassible because of the mud.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-6451536601072221692016-07-29T15:51:08.243-04:002016-07-29T15:51:08.243-04:00I agree it would be terrible to depave roads that ...I agree it would be terrible to depave roads that get sa lot of traffic. But what about roads that are hardly ever used? They have to be re-paved every 7-10 years and that costs money. Why should Wilson Avenue, which runs parallel to the Lehigh River and is in a flood plain and is hardly ever traveled, be paved? Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-66957472730777114512016-07-29T15:43:33.670-04:002016-07-29T15:43:33.670-04:00It is a terrible idea to depave roads. Do we wan...It is a terrible idea to depave roads. Do we want to become a third world country? All the infrastructure including roads were built when we as a country were far less prosperous and had less equipment and technology. It is despicable that we are not maintaining and upgrading it. <br />Transportation and good roads are far more important than stadiums and arenas that get built. We certainly should not follow the examples of Texas or other similar states. I like to think that I live in civilization.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-74638560068723462482016-07-29T15:23:08.724-04:002016-07-29T15:23:08.724-04:00"What about a Broadhead use tax for the truck...<em>"What about a Broadhead use tax for the truck companies that dominate the roadway."</em><br /><br />I like the idea and believe it is constitutional but think it is unworkable. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1147889461210716562016-07-29T15:20:27.851-04:002016-07-29T15:20:27.851-04:008:08, I am quite serious, I do not propose depavin...8:08, I am quite serious, I do not propose depaving roads with heavy traffic or that might result in erosion. You are absolutely right. I propose depaving low impact roads and replacing with gravel or a permeable substance. Cities are 5 degrees hotter than suburbs and one of the reasons for this is bc too much of the area is paved. I would not just go out and rip open a road. I would consult with outfits like the one at PSU that has been doing this in other areas of the state. parks in particular should not have paved roads. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-61127908360965685502016-07-29T14:40:24.758-04:002016-07-29T14:40:24.758-04:00Municipalities pay thousands to install "spee...Municipalities pay thousands to install "speed humps" on certain streets to prevent cars from speeding but then fix the pot holes. I say get rid of the "speed humps" and keep the damn pot holes. Problem solved!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-10842498736094296572016-07-29T11:38:37.736-04:002016-07-29T11:38:37.736-04:00@4:57am What happened is that government unions...@4:57am What happened is that government unions have raised the amount of wages and benifits so high that it squeezes out funds for road maintenance.<br /><br />So we all pay for this in several ways. High taxes, rotten roads, and now they want to take off the asphalt so we go back to the 1920s with dirt roads and ruts in themAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-81325152881007749182016-07-29T10:14:06.728-04:002016-07-29T10:14:06.728-04:00You could start with Trexler Memorial Park. Car...You could start with Trexler Memorial Park. Cars have been banned on those roads for years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-86290382205544078222016-07-29T08:08:57.854-04:002016-07-29T08:08:57.854-04:00If you are serious about de-paving roads in city p...If you are serious about de-paving roads in city parks, I'd suggest banning automobiles in those parks before you do so. Repetitive heavy vehicular traffic on unpaved roads causes ruts and erosion. That would not be good for the nearby streams nor for pedestrians or cyclists in the Allentown and Bethlehem parks systems. Un-paved roads in heavy traffic areas require more, not less, routine maintenance to make them safe and acceptable for the surrounding park environment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-89667057461129048682016-07-29T07:23:53.726-04:002016-07-29T07:23:53.726-04:00Let's forget tar and chip. It's destroyin...Let's forget tar and chip. It's destroying vehicles. Dirt is better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-16529239475025724142016-07-29T07:19:26.784-04:002016-07-29T07:19:26.784-04:00What about a Broadhead use tax for the truck compa...What about a Broadhead use tax for the truck companies that dominate the roadway. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-9184843585282700042016-07-29T05:41:44.708-04:002016-07-29T05:41:44.708-04:00might be on to something. more permeable surface ...might be on to something. more permeable surface too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-37980161017396861232016-07-29T04:57:02.827-04:002016-07-29T04:57:02.827-04:00It is unfortunate that in the 21st century we are ...It is unfortunate that in the 21st century we are deciding to go back to dirt roads. What ever happened to us?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com