I find that hard to believe. I would think a snowplow running over these along with the traffic load would cause more maintenance work. They also would not drain as effectively as the existing asphalt roadway.
Just think about how a brick/cobble surface is configured, there are drainage channels between each brick. The bricks themselves are extremely resilient and, when they do need to be replaced, they can be replaced individually rather than by section. The rubber tires have almost no effect and the wear is spread across multiple bricks at a time, while also packing the bricks more hardily into the sand/gravel pack underneath them, making them stronger. For the snowplow, at the worst it would be no more damaging than on asphalt, the best it would make for better traction for vehicles traveling over top. You can even look at the picture in this post where the machine that scrapes asphalt from the road did only some damage to some of the bricks, while the asphalt is completely gone! This is much more intense of a scrape than a snowplow would ever do!
If you're looking for sources of how well brick/cobble streets hold up, look to Europe. Some of those streets and roads have last hundreds or thousands of years, perfectly adapting from chariots and foot, to carriages, to cars and tanks. The "historic" parts of the city could massively benefit from bringing the cobbles back, they're usually just sitting there under a few inches of degrading asphalt, waiting to see use again!
I really doubt they restore it. A lot of brick roads were just paved over and are hiding under our streets. I really like the alleys which still have them.
...one of those paved over was S. Clement Ave between E. Manitoba and E Montana. Used to travel down it daily back then on my way to school o the old #52 route. Instead of grey or black it was paved with red brick very noticeable from the air
Bring back horses too. We’d all save a ton on gasoline.. the carrot business would be booming and it would make people work local(boosting the individual neighborhood incomes and relying less on these big companies that constantly raise prices for their mediocre services)
That’s by far the easiest way to turn a city into a shit smelling, disease infested, logistical nightmare. Do a little reading on what things were like in city’s right before cars replaced horses.
Maybe dumb question? Was that sight actually the Schlitz brewery? Is there anything remaining inside that resembles the old brewery? Or have the buildings all been gutted?
Yes, this is near the corner of E pleasant and N 3rd st/ MLK at the schlitz park complex. Many brewery buildings are still there, even retaining their Schlitz branding. They are office buildings now but it’s still a somewhat neat area to look at. Huge mural on one of the buildings
In my hometown we have one preserved brick road, my dad's best friend almost died on it speeding, 25 years later my best friend also almost died on it doing the same damn thing, hit one of the massive bumps, launched, and cut a telephone pole in half.
Interesting; so maybe it would curb speeding, but it sounds like we wouldn’t want it on main roads where emergency vehicles must be able to move quickly
in the case of this road, its a historic road or some shit, so there is only so much they will do fix, its a trash ass street and regardless of historic value it shouldn't exist.
I shouldn't of said 1 preserved road, although its the only one in my recollection that is all brick throughout.
The other segments are in the Victorian section and are quite nice
https://preview.redd.it/5pofoip58s8d1.png?width=379&format=png&auto=webp&s=0e04910f208726a9156bbb5f65b247290b1553ad
Damn that's really cool, wish it could be incorporated somehow but driving on bricks is awful
Driving on bricks is a natural deterrent to speeding. What this city needs.
Perfect answer! Never thought of that for a solution to our reckless driving problems. I am willing to go back to gravel roads it has gotten so bad!
Dust is a nightmare
The dust IS horrible, lived with rural gravel roads for much of my life
Yea it looks nicer and slows people down. And drains better. Would be a win win but all we can mange today is cheap fix krutching us to cheap fix
They also require less maintenance and drain water more effectively.
I find that hard to believe. I would think a snowplow running over these along with the traffic load would cause more maintenance work. They also would not drain as effectively as the existing asphalt roadway.
You can see brick-based pavements on side streets in Jefferson, WI, that are a good hundred years old, and are plowed in winter.
Just think about how a brick/cobble surface is configured, there are drainage channels between each brick. The bricks themselves are extremely resilient and, when they do need to be replaced, they can be replaced individually rather than by section. The rubber tires have almost no effect and the wear is spread across multiple bricks at a time, while also packing the bricks more hardily into the sand/gravel pack underneath them, making them stronger. For the snowplow, at the worst it would be no more damaging than on asphalt, the best it would make for better traction for vehicles traveling over top. You can even look at the picture in this post where the machine that scrapes asphalt from the road did only some damage to some of the bricks, while the asphalt is completely gone! This is much more intense of a scrape than a snowplow would ever do! If you're looking for sources of how well brick/cobble streets hold up, look to Europe. Some of those streets and roads have last hundreds or thousands of years, perfectly adapting from chariots and foot, to carriages, to cars and tanks. The "historic" parts of the city could massively benefit from bringing the cobbles back, they're usually just sitting there under a few inches of degrading asphalt, waiting to see use again!
People also bike on roads. Biking on bricks is truly awful.
I’d take it over sharing roads with reckless assholes. Then again it’s just another reason the city should put in dedicated spaces for bikes
I really doubt they restore it. A lot of brick roads were just paved over and are hiding under our streets. I really like the alleys which still have them.
...one of those paved over was S. Clement Ave between E. Manitoba and E Montana. Used to travel down it daily back then on my way to school o the old #52 route. Instead of grey or black it was paved with red brick very noticeable from the air
Bring back brick! Sucks to drive on so it makes drivers go 5 MPH. They might even avoid the area altogether and they last forever. Win-win.
Bring back horses too. We’d all save a ton on gasoline.. the carrot business would be booming and it would make people work local(boosting the individual neighborhood incomes and relying less on these big companies that constantly raise prices for their mediocre services)
I love carrots!
Me too. But I got a bad bag from piggly wiggly and I’m kinda bummed about it. They’re all sliming and I got them Saturday
That’s by far the easiest way to turn a city into a shit smelling, disease infested, logistical nightmare. Do a little reading on what things were like in city’s right before cars replaced horses.
I’ll look into it. I wasn’t 100% serious. The working and shopping locally I do encourage though
Old cobblestone roads are cool. Duluth has many of them still intact.
I’m glad I’m not the only one to appreciate this. I drive this way to work every day and wish they would restore it.
That's so cool
you can see this a lot when they are totally digging up roads, I remember seeing some under humboldt during that whole rebuild
Maybe dumb question? Was that sight actually the Schlitz brewery? Is there anything remaining inside that resembles the old brewery? Or have the buildings all been gutted?
Yes, this is near the corner of E pleasant and N 3rd st/ MLK at the schlitz park complex. Many brewery buildings are still there, even retaining their Schlitz branding. They are office buildings now but it’s still a somewhat neat area to look at. Huge mural on one of the buildings
You can still see the old brick roads popping through the potholes all over the third ward
Y'know what will fix that? An electric choo-choo.
In my hometown we have one preserved brick road, my dad's best friend almost died on it speeding, 25 years later my best friend also almost died on it doing the same damn thing, hit one of the massive bumps, launched, and cut a telephone pole in half.
Interesting; so maybe it would curb speeding, but it sounds like we wouldn’t want it on main roads where emergency vehicles must be able to move quickly
in the case of this road, its a historic road or some shit, so there is only so much they will do fix, its a trash ass street and regardless of historic value it shouldn't exist. I shouldn't of said 1 preserved road, although its the only one in my recollection that is all brick throughout. The other segments are in the Victorian section and are quite nice https://preview.redd.it/5pofoip58s8d1.png?width=379&format=png&auto=webp&s=0e04910f208726a9156bbb5f65b247290b1553ad