When Roads are Paved alone we must take the road less traveled
In our ever-evolving urban landscape, roads, predominantly paved with asphalt, seem like the golden ticket to progress. From the charming streets adorned with shady trees to the vast highways basking in the sun, asphalt is the unsung hero of urban development. However, as more data comes to light, the success of these roads is actually crumbling under the weight compounding failures and unforeseen challenges.
Asphalt, covering 45% of US city surfaces, is the hero and the villain. While pivotal in urban expansion, it’s even more so, the culprit behind the rising urban heat island effect and the release of harmful pollutants. The more we pave, the worse our roads seem to get, increasing costs every year with potholes and rutting while air and water pollution is getting worse.
The Airborne Tussle: Exposed to the relentless sun, asphalt not only absorbs heat but unleashes a torrent of pollutants into the air. The truth is, the combined particle pollution from road surfaces, brake, and tire wear now surpasses that of vehicle exhaust emissions, presenting a significant environmental challenge.
The Green Intervention: Amidst the conventional roads, a new chapter has the chance to begin. Asphalt companies that are synonymous with oil refineries can rise up in the works of turning our trash into paving solutions. We can see cities recognize the need for a paradigm shift. Enter the green revolution, where nature is linked urban infrastructure and where end of life items find new purpose in our building blocks of resilience.
With the historical legacy of asphalt, we can be open minded that the road less traveled might hold the key to a brighter future. My purpose on this planet is to be the bridge over the valley of death, to bring life again to items deemed terminal. Other solutions, like trees, and green roofs being 30–40°F lower than conventional roofs, can aide to alleviate the urban heat island effect but also to enhance air quality, signaling a departure from the failing success of traditional roads.
The future of our cities depend on embracing something new. The once-unchallenged reign of asphalt doesn’t have to face competition from eco-friendly alternatives instead, they can work together. The pieces of the pie are ever expanding. We are again at a crossroads where the decisions made today will shape the urban tales of tomorrow.
The story of roads, once a straightforward narrative of progress can pivot again with new solutions and not being afraid to fail. The failing success of conventional asphalt, laden with statistics revealing environmental challenges, has paved the way for a new chapter in urban development. By daring to explore innovative solutions, our cities have the chance to rewrite the narrative and create a future where sustainability and resilience take center stage. The road less traveled might just be the path to a brighter and cooler urban tale.