Repairing vs. Replacing Roads: What Is Best for the Environment?
By Jack Shaw
As global temperatures rise, we must consider how humanity affects the environment. Roads, while essential for transportation, contribute to our negative environmental impact. Building new roads reduces air quality and affects local ecosystems. As our existing roads age, we face the choice to repair or replace these structures.
If we want to minimize our environmental impact, we must choose carefully. One essential choice is whether to repair or replace roads. Explore road repair and replacement to see which approach is more eco-friendly.
Global Warming’s Impact on Our Roads
As the Earth’s temperature rises, global warming affects everything, including infrastructure. Increased flooding and temperatures can cause roads to weaken and become damaged. More water between asphalt layers weakens the road, while increased heat gets absorbed by the pavement, driving up surrounding temperatures.
These changing conditions weaken pavement structures, causing asphalt cracks and increasing road maintenance. However, infrastructure maintenance also impacts the environment. More frequent repairs mean more resources are used, and the cycle continues. Global warming will continue to wear down roads, driving up our environmental impact as we repair these structures.
The Environmental Effects of Road Construction
Even after building a road, they still affect the environment. Whether we’re building or repairing infrastructure, the materials involved consume resources and contribute to climate change. Road construction’s effects include:
> Increasing pollution: Extracting and transporting construction materials creates carbon emissions. Additionally, heavy machinery used in construction runs on fossil fuels. All that power and extraction increases pollution.
> Impacting ecosystems: Building roads segments ecosystems, harming wildlife. Local wildlife can have trouble finding food and surviving as construction reduces their habitats.
> Contaminating water: Newly paved surfaces made from asphalt can increase water runoff. Toxic substances and debris can pollute groundwater and nearby soil, harming the environment.
Why can’t we use unpaved roads if asphalt materials pollute the land? While unpaved infrastructure may seem less harmful, it can be dangerous for drivers and vehicles. We need to find more sustainable solutions while keeping roads safe for our society.
Repairing Roads
Repairing roads is often the more sustainable choice. Performing repairs means patching up sections or sealing cracks to keep the pavement functional. Instead of starting entirely from scratch, you can use less materials and energy. Repairing roads also reduces waste, making it more sustainable. Fewer old materials need tearing up and disposal.
But repair is only sometimes the best option. Roads with underlying issues may fail despite repairs. Over time, constant repairs could even use more resources and produce more emissions than a complete replacement. Also, many repairs use non-sustainable materials. Repairs might reduce impact, but they still contribute to pollution. Using sustainable materials can help make pavement repairs more environmentally friendly.
Replacing Roads
Replacing a road or road section is a large undertaking. Tearing up old sections uses lots of resources, which are thrown out, creating waste. Additionally, you need new asphalt, concrete, and gravel to build the new road. Producing these materials creates carbon emissions, while equipment uses fossil fuels.
Replacing a road is generally less environmentally friendly than repairing one. But, there are long-term benefits to road replacement:
> Modern materials: Modern materials can be more sustainable. Using recycled asphalt and other innovations reduces the demand for new resources.
> Better designs: We can also design new roads with environmentally conscious designs. New designs may feature better wildlife crossings, stormwater management, and drainage systems. Sustainable designs may help reduce impact over time.
> Solid construction: A well-constructed road may last decades. Improved construction reduces maintenance needs, and fewer repairs mean lower maintenance emissions.
Finding the Right Balance
Sustainable road maintenance relies on finding a balance. The goal is to reduce our impact as much as possible, and repair and replacement can help us achieve this. New technologies and materials combined with careful assessment can create greener road practices.
Older roads at the end of their life might need replacement. Using more sustainable materials and techniques goes a long way toward improving infrastructure replacement. At the same time, regular, effective repairs will extend pavement life. Governments and planners must assess each road job to create hybrid solutions that protect drivers and the environment.
Pave the Way to a Greener Future
Deciding on road repair or replacement is about more than cost or convenience. It’s about minimizing the environmental impact of these practices. Repairs are often the greener option. They need fewer resources and less energy. Officials should invest in better road repair to protect our pathways in the long term.
However, if a road is beyond repair, you need a replacement. Innovative materials and practices can make these replacements more sustainable. The best approach depends on the road, budget, and technology. By carefully weighing both options, we can build planet-friendly infrastructure. Finding the right balance is critical to keeping our roads and environment in good shape.
Jack Shaw is the senior editor of the men’s lifestyle magazine Modded and has written extensively about electric vehicles, sustainable practices, and maintaining a green lifestyle through your everyday actions. His writing can be found in Green Living Journal, Packaging Digest, EcoHotels, and more. Connect with him via his LinkedIn.