NC 281 - Good News/Bad News

[2cats]

I went on 281 from the south, on September 3, to see what's up.  It was paved - and it looked very new.  There was still a couple of miles of that washboard stuff in the middle - but I was very pleased.  Went back today, again starting from the south.  I saw a sign that said "loose gravel on road", and I thought that was there the last time; that it was left over from the construction.  But that's what they meant - the road was covered in gravel, that they put on top of the asphalt.

I can't get my head around it - that they would unnecessarily, but willfully, make a road more dangerous, to discourage traffic (motorcycles).  What if I went down, going 15 mph, because they covered a road with debris?  What else are they allowed to put on a road?  What will the sign say - "Fresh Pools of Diesel"?  "2 x 4's with Nails Through Them"?  "Watch out for Jacks"?

When you buy a house, you've got to imagine everything that could happen around you.  I don't think you should be able to endanger people just because you live on a winding road, and I certainly don't think that the government should do it, either.

[Diablo Rojo]

I have seen them do this on Cheaha mountain also.  They lay pea gravel on top of the hard top for the winter.  Truly sucks for bikes.

[2cats]

Are you suggesting that this is just for winter, for traction through small amounts of snow/ice?  That it might go away and not come back until next year?

[Diablo Rojo]

Unfortunately, on the roads I have seen them lay it down, yes.  It takes a while in the spring for traffic to clear it out of the way.

[atwowheelguy]

I saw this in Ouray, CO this summer. The highway crew sprayed some tar on the road and spread about 3/4" of loose gravel on it and went off and left it that way! What are they thinking? This a very twisty road with few guardrails and a two foot road shoulder and a drop of hundreds of feet straight down. Highway engineering insanity.

[servicerifle]

2cats, sounds like you are new to riding in the area.  Unfortunately this is pretty standard fare for mountainous areas in the area.  VA roads are TERRIBLE for this.  You can still rail the roads, you just have to be very wary.

[1moreroad]

2cats, sounds like you are new to riding in the area.  Unfortunately this is pretty standard fare for mountainous areas in the area.  VA roads are TERRIBLE for this.  You can still rail the roads, you just have to be very wary.

+1 in Mississippi

Cars are heavy enough that they press the gravel into the asphalt.  Once the gravel is pressed into the tar, it can provide better traction than just the asphalt.  It is also one of the least expensive ways to build a paved road.

No... the world does not revolve around motorcyclists.

[2cats]

56,000 miles since November 2004.  This is the only time I've seen gravel applied on top of good asphalt.  I don't expect treats, but it would be nice if Highway Departments did not try to kill me.  I'm not railing on this stuff - I'm not talking about some gravel drug out into right hand turns by cars cutting the corners; this is all over the road, everywhere.

[servicerifle]

Not to start an argument, but mileage doesn't mean shit in the mountains.

Anyway, if it's that bad, maybe you should take a photo...post it here, and also send it to the NC DOT or your local newspaper, or both.

[Desmo Demon]

I've seen northern Georgia DOT do that to both 348 and 180 in the winter. It truly sucks. I heard about them doing that on 281 over the weekend. I didn't ride on 281 other than the wide sweepers between 107 and Charlie's Creek. My wife never cared for the lower section of 281 near the damn, and I've grown to realize I get too stupid through that section. I think smacking the guardrail on Labor Day also influences me to not want to ride on it for a while.  

Oh yeah, the tar and gravel is how SC really F'ed up the southern section of 107. That road is now terrible when it gets wet. The gravel has been pushed around and away, so now you have to deal with the tar, and it gets really slippery when it is wet or on days that are over 90 degrees. It's almost as bad as all the damn tar snakes that GA sprayed all over 60 south of Suches.

[wheatonFJR]

So it sounds like if I move down south there really is NOT year round twisty riding.

[R1rider]

I have seen them do this on Cheaha mountain also.  They lay pea gravel on top of the hard top for the winter.  Truly sucks for bikes.

i was truly disappointed the first time i noticed this at Cheaha...  haven't been back actually(more than 4 years).  

as for north alabama...i haven't noticed any gravel on the roads during the winter.  

[earthshake]

I've heard it referred to as a chip seal by DOT types and it is usually used on relatively low volume roads.  Yes, it sucks when it's new but it eventually becomes a decent surface.

[2cats]

From Wikipedia:

"Although chip seal is an effective low cost way to repair road, it has some drawbacks. Loose crushed stone is often left on the surface, due to under-application of emulsion or over application of stone. If not removed, this can cause safety and environmental problems such as cracked windshields, loss-of-control crashes (especially for motorcyclists and bicyclists), and deposition of foreign material into drainage courses. Therefore, it is very important to sweep the road after the emulsion sets."

It it ever stops raining and gets over 60 at the same time, I may try it again.  I haven't been on Charley's Creek yet.  

[Desmo Demon]

So it sounds like if I move down south there really is NOT year round twisty riding.

We still ride all year round......we just have to slow down a little bit in the winters.