Why do we still use concrete and asphalt for our roadways? Why have we not found a better material that is less prone to potholes and always feels smooth to drive on?

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Why do we still use concrete and asphalt for our roadways? Why have we not found a better material that is less prone to potholes and always feels smooth to drive on?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Faster, Better, Cheaper – choose 2.

Asphalt is fast and cheap.

Concrete is cheap (though not as cheap as asphalt) and better.

If you discover a substance that’s cheaper than concrete/asphalt and better (in a durability perspective) than concrete/asphalt, then people would really like to buy it from you. Alas, no such substance is known.

There are some ideas, like mixing broken glass in to replace the sand, that are a little better and a little cheaper than asphalt, but not enough cheaper and better to expand at scale.

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