Can someone please explain to me why in 2015 we pay 21st century state taxes to get a 19th century road system, hot tar and chip.

My guess is that our state officials are getting by on the cheap when they replace asphalt roads with the tar and chip product. Tar and chip is less expensive than asphalt per the paving mile. It is also a dirtier alternative; windshields can be chipped with flying stones as well as producing dings in highly waxed paint surfaces; and finally, stopping distances are increased due to the loose gravel.

American ingenuity should be able to produce a new alternative to tar and chip. Changes to old glassphalt or a new invention using old rubber tires may be a start.

Tom Sturm

North Huntingdon

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