Existing infrastructure needs ‘progress,’ too

This city's 'Paving for Progress” theme is a catchy saying, but there exists significant visual evidence that the theme is followed without giving the needed maintenance to older existing streets, intakes, bridges and more.

Too many potholes and significant breaks in older streets are 'maintained” by tossing a shovel of 'cold mix” asphalt on them and relying upon vehicle drivers to properly compact it. Proper compaction and density is not being obtained with this method.

Intakes that have needed repairs for years don't get repaired.

Cottage Grove Parkway is a Portland cement concrete street. It has sawed longitudinal and transverse joints that have not been blown out and resealed for many years. Water in those joints is freezing and causing unwanted breakage. Where sawed longitudinal and transverse joints intersect, water can enter the joint from two directions and, at some of those intersections, craters are beginning to occur and they are getting larger and larger.

Let's 'Pave for Progress,” but only after properly maintaining what has previously been constructed.

Marv Rops

Cedar Rapids