ROADS AND HIGHWAYS

IN SIGHT INTO AMERICA

ROADS AND HIGHWAYS

I was standing at the bus stop of Srirangam to board a bus to Trichy Fort. A bus came and stopped before me with dust storm and I have to wipe my eyes repeatedly to remove the dust from eyes. I saw that this road was laid only few days before. They call it Tar road.

I came out from Los Angeles Air Port. From the Air port to the city of Cerritos took 45- minutes-30 miles travel. The road is 6- lanes-3-for going and 3- for incoming. Thousands of cars going and coming in orderly manner and the travel was very comfortable-no jerk or shake.

I compared the road at Srirangam. During the travel of 3-KM to Fort you have to face untold jerks and no traffic rules and there is stiff competition between Transport Companies each one vying to accommodate minimum of 100 persons in a bus.

I asked my Son-in-Law when this road was laid while going home to Cerritos. He said that it has not been laid recently and about five- years before.

Statistics say that the roads in California are the worst when compared to other States. If they looked like as if newly laid then we can imagine how it will be in other States.

America is three times bigger than our country but their cars and Lorries are many times more than we are. They are jumbo vehicles and they are able to maintain their roads in excellent conditions. How they are able to do?

I used to collect many details whenever I get time. What I understood in this field is- In recent times the maintained of roads are left to the care of private Companies. The Structure of the Companies is:

There are 6- Types of Machines with these Companies.

1. Grader with scarifying teeth to scratch and bring the road to a level
2. 2. Tankers for water and emulsified bitumen.
3. Pneumatic Tired Roller.
4. Vibrating/ Flat roller.
5. Tampering/Pad Foot roller
6. Disc arrow roller

With the above important machines, they lay the road- 750 meters length, 9- meter width, 15 CM depth at a stretch and 3- KMs in 4-days. The cost is only 60% of the normal procedure. Only 4- persons are employed and they have to take the vehicle from the shed and leave it there after work

Nowadays they are using Cold Micro surface Emulsion. By the method the tar need not be heated- They spray this tiny bitumen emulsion on the road after leveling and with in one hour the road is ready.

High Ways are laid and maintained by private Companies and they collect by Toll System-small amount from road users.

Compared to this system let us how we are laying the roads.

First, they spread red sand over the existing road. It will lie for one week. If rain comes, it will be miserable. Next, they spread stones big and small and it will take about 4- days to level it. They spread the heated Tar over these. There after they spread sand. The Contractor will come, measure, and collect the bill. Immediately the Telephone Contractor will come and dig the newly laid road to lay the cable.

Why this difference between America and We. It is only the importance they attach to the work and the quality of the work with latest technology and machines.

American High Ways carries thousands of cars and trucks every day. They are 6- lanes with free way for long distance travel- Hundreds of Fly overs for smooth and fast travels.

Let us see the roads in the Cities. In every American Home, there will be at least 2-cars. To facilitate easy movement, the roads in by lanes are minimum of 30 feet. Along the sides, there are 8 feet width Cycle ways on both sides-4feet for grass, flowers, and 4-feet concrete road for cycle and pedestrians. Watering of the grass and flowers are done through automatic sprinkler system. They use machines for laying and cutting the grass and liberal use of vacuum cleaners to remove the wastes...

The worker will come at 8.00 AM in his own car and do the work and by 4- he will leave. He may be attending the university in the evening- may be Indian or Mexican or Afro Americans.

R.Jagannathan.