Western Pennsylvania has much to offer a resident. In fact, Pittsburgh is an excellent place to live, having been named the “Most Livable City” twice. The area offers hunting and fishing, both just minutes away from downtown. The city itself offers many different types of entertainment. Pittsburgh has the Steelers, Pirates, Penguins and numerous colleges if you enjoy sports. If you’re not a big sports fan, come downtown and visit the zoo, the Buhl Science Center, Heinz Hall, the Carnegie Museum or the Warhol Museum. However if you dare to venture in to the fair city be warned, these are some of the worst roads in the country, as well as, pothole capital of the world. There is cost effective solution that could turn Pittsburgh into the most drivable city by simply using a willow we can end the weeping.
As the seasons change in Allegheny County the residents don’t need a calendar. Sure there are the regular seasons; spring, summer, fall and winter, but the one that brings out the worst in the local citizens is pothole season. Unfortunately, we are famous for our potholes, some are rumored to have swallowed entire cars, there is no real proof to back that claim. Route 51 heading south to Elizabeth had so many potholes one season that it was called the “Burma Road.” One year there was a pothole on Route 65, in Avalon, that measured eight feet long and three feet wide.
It has been suggested that the main cause of the pothole problem is the weather. The snow or rain, freezes on the road, then melts and re-freezes under the road causing the nasty pothole. However, I would argue that the problem is the clay under the road. The clay holds moisture under the road all year and when the temperature changes, regardless of snow or rain, the road starts to bubble or break as the clay freezes. So it really doesn’t matter what type of road surface is used or, for that matter, what type of drainage system is used under the road. The real problem is the water being held in the clay.
A simple, cost effective and environmentally friendly solution to the problem is Weeping Willow trees. A Weeping Willow is a fast growing tree that absorbs gallons of water. The tree searches for water in the surrounding area and grows well in all types of ground conditions. I would suggest finding a two mile area along a well traveled road in the Allegheny County area and plant several Weeping Willow trees on both sides. If the program works, the trees could be planted along sections of road throughout Pennsylvania, at about the cost of $18.45 per tree.
The savings made by not having to continually work on the same stretches of road would free up money to make the necessary repairs to the roads in the cities. Where possible Weeping Willows, or other similar trees, could be planted in suitable areas in the cities to see if this project could succeed in a downtown area. Given the poor reputation of our roads and the environmental concerns of the time, the Weeping Willow project could enhance the reputation of the Pittsburgh area, as well as, put us in the forefront of creative change for road condition solutions.
As the seasons change in Allegheny County the residents don’t need a calendar. Sure there are the regular seasons; spring, summer, fall and winter, but the one that brings out the worst in the local citizens is pothole season. Unfortunately, we are famous for our potholes, some are rumored to have swallowed entire cars, there is no real proof to back that claim. Route 51 heading south to Elizabeth had so many potholes one season that it was called the “Burma Road.” One year there was a pothole on Route 65, in Avalon, that measured eight feet long and three feet wide.
It has been suggested that the main cause of the pothole problem is the weather. The snow or rain, freezes on the road, then melts and re-freezes under the road causing the nasty pothole. However, I would argue that the problem is the clay under the road. The clay holds moisture under the road all year and when the temperature changes, regardless of snow or rain, the road starts to bubble or break as the clay freezes. So it really doesn’t matter what type of road surface is used or, for that matter, what type of drainage system is used under the road. The real problem is the water being held in the clay.
A simple, cost effective and environmentally friendly solution to the problem is Weeping Willow trees. A Weeping Willow is a fast growing tree that absorbs gallons of water. The tree searches for water in the surrounding area and grows well in all types of ground conditions. I would suggest finding a two mile area along a well traveled road in the Allegheny County area and plant several Weeping Willow trees on both sides. If the program works, the trees could be planted along sections of road throughout Pennsylvania, at about the cost of $18.45 per tree.
The savings made by not having to continually work on the same stretches of road would free up money to make the necessary repairs to the roads in the cities. Where possible Weeping Willows, or other similar trees, could be planted in suitable areas in the cities to see if this project could succeed in a downtown area. Given the poor reputation of our roads and the environmental concerns of the time, the Weeping Willow project could enhance the reputation of the Pittsburgh area, as well as, put us in the forefront of creative change for road condition solutions.
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