Look! There is a thing!

 

Road maintenance, USA style, is variable, to say the least. Potholes are filled -- eventually. Cracks are often filled with a "drizzle" of asphalt. When the road needs refurbishing, it gets "chip-sealed." This is a process of laying down a thin layer of tar, covering that with a layer of small pebbles, and pressing it into the tar. It's actually pretty effective, after a period of "settling in" by being driven on. And finally, if the road warrants it, it'll be dug up and completely rebuilt.

So, the four-mile stretch between my road and the next intersection has been rebuilt. It's been a slow process that started back in April or May. (I've slept since then.) But now that stretch of road is finished, a little wider than it was (yay!), and smoo-o-o-oth. It's been a treat to drive on; we don't often get such a quiet, non-bumpy ride around here.

When I went to town on Monday, there were orange barrels beside the road. I figured they would block off sections as they applied the striping. When I headed home today, I discovered they had chip-sealed one lane; I assume the other will be done tomorrow.

I am absolutely dumbfounded. Why on earth did someone direct the workers to chip-seal a brand new road?!?? Maybe someone got roads mixed up -- they've chip-sealed roads to the east and west of this one. (I took alternate routes to get to town while the rebuilding was going on, so I got to see the chip-sealing "spread.") And I know the workers have to do what they're told. But wasn't there anyone on the team who could call someone of more seniority and say, "Hey, look, this is a brand-new road. Isn't this chip-sealing supposed to be going on a different road?"

I mean... if this road gets an unnecessary treatment, there won't be the funds for some other road to get the treatment it needs. Talk about government waste!

Or maybe this is a case of, "That's New Mexico." Right up there with the way they re-striped my road about 15 years ago, with double-striping (don't pass) the entire 8.5-mile length. I'm sure people complained; there had previously been plenty of places where passing was allowed. So, a few weeks later, they had to cover the 2nd stripe with black paint, in places where it was okay to pass. I just shook my head; such a stupid mistake to make, but seems par for the course around here.

My European and British friends... is road maintenance any more sensible over there than it is here?