Summary Reader's Response: Porous Road Surfaces (Summary Draft 2)

The article “Porous Asphalt Is King of the Road” (PaveGreen, n.d.) presents the benefits of porous asphalt surfaces and explains its utility in improving stormwater management and road safety. Rainfall naturally sinks into the soil and is filtered through it. However, in cities, rainfall or “runoff” causes flooding on roads and parking lots, along with contaminants, such as oils and minerals. It then flows straight into drains without being filtered naturally.


The article states that porous asphalt is a natural material consisting of rocks combined with asphalt cement, except that there are fewer fine aggregates to provide space for water to pass through open spaces between large aggregates, as compared to conventional roads. Underneath, a “recharge bed” composed of spaced-out stones with 40% voids retains rainwater until it is filtered into the soil, hence cleaning it.


The article also mentions that during storms, porous asphalt greatly reduces accidents as less road splashes lead to higher visibility. For areas with heavy snowfall, it reduces the need for “deicing” to make roads less slippery. Hence, risks of accidents are reduced in both rainstorms and winter climates.


The article points out that the stone bed underneath costs more than a conventional road, but is typically outweighed due to substantial savings in reducing stormwater pipes and inlets needed. Additionally, there is less unearthing as it conforms to the topography of the land. These benefits cut costs and protect the environment. 


Hence, porous asphalt is extremely beneficial as it reduces stormwater drainage costs and increases road safety, while decreasing environmental pollution.



Retrieved from: 

http://www.pavegreen.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58%3Aking-of-the-road&catid=35%3Aporous-asphalt&Itemid=110


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