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I hope this doesn't come as a shock to anyone, but Regina has a seasonal problem with potholes. But there may be hope for our pothole problem, and similar problems all over the world, thanks to the work of two University of Washington State University civil engineering professors.
Dr. Thomas Papgiannakis and Dr. Eyad Masad are carefully studying how and why potholes form. Their goal is to help engineers custom-design asphalt to suit the particular ground and climate conditions where a road is built.
In Regina, roads are built on a base 50 to 80 centimetres thick, depending on the traffic load. The bottom layer is clean sand, which aids drainage. Over that goes a layer ...
Posted by Edward Willett at 20:50, May 2nd, 2000 under Blog, Columns, Science Columns |
It's spring in Regina, and we all know what that means: snow is melting, water and funny-looking guys in shorts are running, and the potholes are in bloom.
Everyone knows that Regina has a pothole problem, and for once, what "everyone knows" is right. But don't blame the city. Especially, don't blame Harlan Ritchie, Manager of Roadways Engineering, or Dennis Lawrysyn, Manager of Roadways Maintenance, because they're the ones who gave me information for this column. It's not their fault! (The potholes, that is, not this column.)
Our roads are built on thick, gooey clay. Gooey clay is gooey for one reason: it traps and holds moisture. Potholes occur for one reason: moisture trapped and held ...
Posted by Edward Willett at 20:48, March 13th, 1995 under Blog, Columns, Science Columns |