Road Repair Standstill

(Week 18, Day 6)

Here's something a little less grim to comment on.

The roads in Edmonton got pretty bad over the last winter, and there are massive potholes all over the city. This isn't much a traffic problem anymore, but it is worth commenting on anyway, because of the lack of repair that's going on.

Why aren't they repairing the roads?

Well, it's not because there's no need. Cycling and walking traffic have increased, and many bike riders have taken to using the regular roads more openly.

It's not because the municipal government can't get the manpower. There are people willing to work for scraps out there right now, with the massive layoffs and the refugee situation.

And it most certainly isn't because they can't afford it. I'm sure there's a contractor out there right now willing to take on the job with a minimum fuss for very, very cheap.

No, the reason is because asphalt is oil based.

When I figured that out - and I'm embarrassed it took so long for it to strike me - it made me realize that there are plenty of oil based products that we may never see again. Styrofoam. Paraffin Wax. Petroleum Jelly. Plastic bags at grocery stores; in fact, many plastics in general.

But the one that really struck me was shingles. Most shingles produced in North America are made with asphalt, not tar. Obviously, that's going to become a problem now that oil prices have skyrocketed around the globe. It never occurred to me that the literal roof over my head was in danger of being lost.

So, to anyone reading my columns, I pose this question. Have you considered alternative roofing to your current shingles? They will need replacing at some point. Wood is certainly an option, but is there anything better? Definitely something to ponder in the coming weeks and months, if things don't start getting better.

As for the roads, well, some 80% of the asphalt currently used in road production is actually recycled. So maybe we will see some of those potholes along major roads get filled at some point when things settle down.

Maybe.

_{***This is a fictional report of the state of affairs in Alberta for the World Without Oil ARG.}