There has been a lot of road construction and repaving this year. Have you noticed how new asphalt is so very black, and as it weathers/wears the entire road surface lightens in color? I do know that asphalt is also called bituminous concrete - the tar compounds are a binder for the aggregate and sand. Ultimately the road's final color is due to the color of the crushed rock (aggregate) after these tarry binders are worn away. There is a section of I-80 in eastern Pennsylvania where the interstate has a reddish hue due to the color of this gravel.
My question is, why doesn't the road wear more quickly in the tire tracks resulting in two lighter paths with a dark center. From what I have seen, the color seems to lighten uniformly across the width of the road.
While newly laid roads are a joy to ride on (after a few weeks to let them weather a bit) I find that they absorb light at night like a sponge. And if it is raining, forget it - I park the bike and get off the road. As I age, my night vision seems to be getting worse and new wet roads equal conditions that are too dangerous for me.
My question is, why doesn't the road wear more quickly in the tire tracks resulting in two lighter paths with a dark center. From what I have seen, the color seems to lighten uniformly across the width of the road.
While newly laid roads are a joy to ride on (after a few weeks to let them weather a bit) I find that they absorb light at night like a sponge. And if it is raining, forget it - I park the bike and get off the road. As I age, my night vision seems to be getting worse and new wet roads equal conditions that are too dangerous for me.