Summary Reader Response Draft 1
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 free up 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 retains rainwater until it is filtered into the soil. Hence, it is cleaned.
The article also mentions that even during storms, porous asphalt greatly reduces accidents as visibility is increased when there are lesser puddles on the road causing splashes. For areas with heavy snowfall, it reduces the need for “deicing”, where “chlorine-laden” chemicals remove ice from roads to make them 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, but is typically outweighed due to substantial savings in building stormwater pipes and inlets. Additionally, there is less unearthing as it conforms to the topography of the land. These benefits cut costs and protect the environment.
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