2 minute read
From the Editor
DRIVING GOVERNMENT TO REPAIR CRUMBLING ROADS
Canada has a serious problem with aging infrastructure, a fact that I’ve discussed here previously – and one that, despite regular announcements about focus and funding, rarely changes.
One piece of that infrastructure that we all experience in one way or another is our road network. Highways and city streets across the country are in a constant state of update and repair, and yet it’s hard to go a few kilometres without finding a road that could benefit from immediate attention. Rural areas fare even worse.
Roads, though, seem to be less of a focus for major funding efforts. Municipalities find themselves footing the bill for repair and maintenance on their road networks, and frequently are left having to pick and choose between projects because the budget is tight. Funding from the federal government – whether it be specific infrastructure investment, contributions from the federal gas tax program, or otherwise – tends to go toward large transportation programs, while secondary roads are left to linger.
Some groups are making an effort to bring the need for road infrastructure improvements to the forefront, in hopes of increased funding. The Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association (ARHCA), for example, conducted a campaign earlier this year that encouraged the public to get involved – by pointing out the province’s worst roads.
A request for Alberta residents to share pictures of the worst roads in their region turned up some pretty shocking images that really hammer home the need for more road repair funding province-wide. Crumbling shoulders, giant potholes, water running along the roadway – there are some very ugly scenes out there.
The ARHCA’s efforts got the public engaged in hopes of pushing politicians to bring more funding to the table. At the same time, there are growing opportunities to improve roads from a technological perspective; these new approaches can save time and money, while giving road surfaces a longer lifespan.
We look at one of these in this issue: our colleague Larry Trojak’s article on All Roads Construction on page 32 digs into the use of SmoothRide technology from Topcon to improve construction efficiency and road longevity. LIDAR scans of the road surface allow crews to determine exactly
how much material they need for the project and where problem spots might turn up, improving the placement of asphalt right up front.
Innovations in hot mix formulations are also making it easier to improve and extend the life of infrastructure. New additives improve strength and lifespan of asphalt road surfaces, and more are coming on to the market all the time, giving government agencies an opportunity to extend the lives of their road assets.
The infrastructure deficit needs to be closed in Canada, and there are plenty of new opportunities to use the latest roadbuilding innovation as a way to narrow that gap – and keep it closed.
Lee Toop
Editor
ltoop@baumpub.com heavyequipmentguide.ca
