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Roads can be made of asphalt, concrete, brick, gravel, and other materials. Material selection depends on traffic patterns, weather conditions, costs, and noise issues. Asphalt is usually used for busy roads, while bricks and cobblestones are used for aesthetic purposes. Dirt roads are suitable for low traffic areas, while bridges require reinforcing steel beams and other supplies.
One of the most popular road building materials is asphalt, followed by concrete, but roads can also be made of brick, gravel, and other materials. Material selection involves choosing the best option for the given conditions, considering traffic patterns, weather conditions, costs and noise issues. Transportation departments typically review their options before starting new roads or resurfacing projects, to determine the best possible choice. Companies that specialize in road construction supplies typically offer a wide range of products.
For a busy road, asphalt is usually the material of choice. Properly known as asphaltic concrete, it consists of a mixture of aggregates bonded together with tacky asphalt and then compacted to create a roadway. Such roads require preparation to lay the roadbed and design a road with the correct grade; the road must rise in the middle to aid drainage, and it must also slope properly around curves, as drivers can move at high speeds. Concrete is also used for some roads.
Bricks, cobblestones, and other pavers are another option for road building materials. These tend to be used in areas where people want a specific aesthetic look and traffic doesn’t move quickly. Fast traffic can damage the road surface and can also generate a lot of noise. Common locations for such road building materials include historic districts and downtown gathering locations. They can also be used for driveways and low traffic roads.
Dirt roads are made by applying gravel and other aggregate materials to create a passable surface. They are suitable for low traffic and low speed areas. For areas with more traffic, a better option might be a tar-and-chip road or bituminous surface treatment, where the aggregates are mixed with sticky binders to better hold them together. These roads will need periodic resurfacing to keep them functional, but they can be a good middle ground between an expensive paved road and a dirt road that is inadequate for rural areas.
Road construction materials for bridges, overpasses, and similar structures also include materials such as reinforcing steel beams and similar supplies to create a stable structure that can withstand heavy weights. Structural steel, concrete, and other materials can be used to create the supports, with a paved roadbed to allow for cars to pass. Some structures may need special features, such as a drawbridge to allow vessel traffic to pass underneath, and may require substantial planning and engineering.
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