In many areas of the country, late summer and early fall mean that road construction crews will be busy improving the roads we all drive on, trying to get their work completed before the winter stormy season arrives. Most of us have experienced the frustration of running into road construction delays when we’re out driving. For some reason, they always seem to come at the worst times – like when we’re trying to get to work, or to a dinner date, or to pick up the kids from school. But there’s another way to look at these annoying delays, because whether you realize it or not, road construction is actually a good thing! Here’s why.
- A new road surface is safer. Because new pavement is so much smoother than an old, worn surface, you’ll be much less likely to run into potholes and other uneven portions of the pavement. And new roads aren’t as prone to creating splashes during rainstorms, as opposed to older roads where water can collect in pavement depressions and create hazardous splashes in the rain.
- New roads save the consumers money. It’s a simple fact: the smoother the road surface is, the easier it is on your vehicle. Driving on new roads saves on repair costs that you might otherwise have after exposing your car or truck to the bumps in an older road. New road surfaces are also more fuel-efficient, which means that you’ll save money on the gas or diesel it takes to drive your vehicle.
- A new road allows for shorter travel times. While there’s no doubt that the delays we experience as a result of road construction can slow us down a bit, the truth is that once the road is completed, just the opposite will be true. You may have to wait for a few minutes today, but later on – once the roadwork is complete – you’ll save a significant amount of time traveling on a smoother and/or wider road.
- New roads are more environmentally friendly. We mentioned before how a new road surface saves consumers on fuel costs, but a smooth road does more than that. It also results in reduced carbon dioxide emissions, and that helps the environment.
The next time you run into road construction, take a minute to remember the positive outcomes of these projects. It might not make your wait time any shorter, but it can definitely cut down on your frustration level. Just take a deep breath and imagine all the benefits that new road surface will bring!