Resurfacing the road with loose chipping's - The consequence
Discussion
On Thursday, the dual carriageway was resurfaced by my house. Instead of doing the whole road they have done little sections of the road and in the meantime there are no road markings. They have put the signs up advising loose chippings etc and there is an advisory 20mph limit (the road is usually 40-50). I always avoid these roads when they are resurfaced as I don't want to drive a car that looks like a delorean. Having walked past the road after it was done I haven't seen anything like it before. There seemed to be far too many chippings on the road and every time a car drove down it there would be a big dust trail.
Anyway on the Friday everyone in my street was awoken by a massive bang and then a constant horn going off for about 5 minutes. Walked over to see what was going off and a BMW 3 series had managed to lose control about 100 yards from the start of the chippings and hit a tree - to which the driver was instantly killed. Ok so the witness said that the BMW was overtaking a lorry at around 60-70 mph and then lost control on the chippings. So speed did have an influence here but the road is effectively straight and there are never any crashes here ever.
Why are we using this method to resurface our roads? Yes, I suppose it is cheaper but can we really justify that when it makes the roads unsafe?
Just to show you how bad the damage was to the BMW (for example they found the interior mirror 50 yards down the road and they found bits of the car on peoples drives and roofs). RIP.
Not sure why my Photobucket won't just upload the big image instead of everyone having to click the links
Anyway on the Friday everyone in my street was awoken by a massive bang and then a constant horn going off for about 5 minutes. Walked over to see what was going off and a BMW 3 series had managed to lose control about 100 yards from the start of the chippings and hit a tree - to which the driver was instantly killed. Ok so the witness said that the BMW was overtaking a lorry at around 60-70 mph and then lost control on the chippings. So speed did have an influence here but the road is effectively straight and there are never any crashes here ever.
Why are we using this method to resurface our roads? Yes, I suppose it is cheaper but can we really justify that when it makes the roads unsafe?
Just to show you how bad the damage was to the BMW (for example they found the interior mirror 50 yards down the road and they found bits of the car on peoples drives and roofs). RIP.
Not sure why my Photobucket won't just upload the big image instead of everyone having to click the links
Edited by giltranator on Saturday 24th August 10:27
Many roads in Warwickshire have recently had this treatment. After a week it appears that many of the stones have been flicked to the road's edge.
On the face of it, it fills a few minor road blemishes but reduces the overall road surface quality, at I imagine a significant cost.
I hope the council can show this offers value for money.
ps. sad news about that guy being killed, though from what you say, he could have killed himself any time anywhere with that style of driving.
On the face of it, it fills a few minor road blemishes but reduces the overall road surface quality, at I imagine a significant cost.
I hope the council can show this offers value for money.
ps. sad news about that guy being killed, though from what you say, he could have killed himself any time anywhere with that style of driving.
Sorry to hear about the guy but I'd wait till all the facts are known about speed, etc before determining whether the road surface was the most important factor (not saying it was't, peoples judgements of speeds are usually wrong).
But I will say as an ex biker I found the chipping method pretty scary especially when lane changing where it can take ages for it to settle.
But I will say as an ex biker I found the chipping method pretty scary especially when lane changing where it can take ages for it to settle.
Drive according to the conditions.
Unfortunately they didn't and paid the ultimate price.
People look at the "20mph Skid Risk" signs and ignore them. They don't print them up and put them out for the hell of it.
What is the limit? Looks like a 40mph dual carriageway in a residential area to me.
There are many other facts that are completely unknown so hard to blame it on the chippings, drunk, not wearing their glasses, prescription drugs, stolen?
The method is not ideal but after 3/4 weeks the surface is usually better than the slick surface that was present before. The only thing that really grates with me is that it is carried out in the summer. I believe they do this to save money on heating the Bitumen but would like to hear from road contractors that know different.
Do it when it is colder, chuck the chippings on, sweep the following day. Job done.
Unfortunately they didn't and paid the ultimate price.
People look at the "20mph Skid Risk" signs and ignore them. They don't print them up and put them out for the hell of it.
What is the limit? Looks like a 40mph dual carriageway in a residential area to me.
There are many other facts that are completely unknown so hard to blame it on the chippings, drunk, not wearing their glasses, prescription drugs, stolen?
The method is not ideal but after 3/4 weeks the surface is usually better than the slick surface that was present before. The only thing that really grates with me is that it is carried out in the summer. I believe they do this to save money on heating the Bitumen but would like to hear from road contractors that know different.
Do it when it is colder, chuck the chippings on, sweep the following day. Job done.
MysteryLemon said:
recently did a lot of the roads around here the same. Terrible surface which is an accident waiting to happen. Also quite dangerous for cyclists and motorcyclists who will struggle to grip when cornering.
Yep, especially as all the loose stuff tends to get thrown to the outside of the road - so the cycle lanes are deep in the stuff. It's like cycling through mud and tramlining all at the same time 
parabolica said:
Why is everyone loosing their minds about this method of surface treatment? This has been the norm for the best part of 10-15 years in Scotland and yes it's a PITA for a week or so but it makes the roads less susceptible to potholes/breaking down compared to smooth Tarmac.
Its been the norm for as long as I remember, I can remember it being done in the mid seventies and my mums Anglebox having a shattered windscreen as a result, it may be a cheap fix, it my be s
te but its sign posted / speed limited and if you crash for driving like a dick then tough titties.At those speeds it's just dumb in a built up area irrespective of chippings or not. The driver paid the ultimate price for stupidity.
The chipping method is initially a pain until the chips settle but once done provides a surface which has a better 'key' and therefore less skid risk. Cheap but proven.
The chipping method is initially a pain until the chips settle but once done provides a surface which has a better 'key' and therefore less skid risk. Cheap but proven.
Didn't they use steamrollers back in the day to do the initial push of all the stones into the bitumen? Do they still do that as I certainly don't recall seeing one when they resurfaced the roads near me. Seems to be a bit of a slapdash quick surface and move on to the next, possibly the result of cost cutting and having to get through so many so quickly so corners are cut.
I always thought they did them in summer soas not to congest the roads even further as there's a bit of a reprieve with the lack of school traffic.
I always thought they did them in summer soas not to congest the roads even further as there's a bit of a reprieve with the lack of school traffic.
Hanslow said:
Didn't they use steamrollers back in the day to do the initial push of all the stones into the bitumen? Do they still do that as I certainly don't recall seeing one when they resurfaced the roads near me. Seems to be a bit of a slapdash quick surface and move on to the next, possibly the result of cost cutting and having to get through so many so quickly so corners are cut.
I always thought they did them in summer soas not to congest the roads even further as there's a bit of a reprieve with the lack of school traffic.
Yup, they were always pressed in with a steamroller then the excess was swept away. The current method is lethal if you're on two wheels.I always thought they did them in summer soas not to congest the roads even further as there's a bit of a reprieve with the lack of school traffic.
V88Dicky said:
Are those 'Lexus style' rear lights I see?
That usually means a penis is driving.
That's a really sThat usually means a penis is driving.
tty thing to say. Anyway, back on topic. I learned my lesson on these stone chippings back in 1998/99. Happily motoring along at about 60 despite clear warnings, I thought I was Bertie Fisher and would have no problems going around the gentle right hander. Then the car started drifting to the outside of the corner, I dabbed the brakes, found I wasn't exactly in control and sort of awkwardly fishtailed from side to side, somehow making it around the corner unscathed.
I treat freshly "resurfaced" roads with a little more respect now.
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