Detroit Construction And Tons Of Opportunities
In case you haven’t heard, the main artery linking Detroit to the rest of the country south of Michigan will be shut down for two years starting next month. On Feb. 4, I-75 southbound will be closed for an eight-mile stretch between Detroit and Southgate, Mich. Northbound lanes will remain open.
While the Wayne County (MI) Department of Public Services website has two detours planned around the affected areas, the project undoubtedly will cause traffic snarls and tack on an additional 30 to 35 miles for truckers.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, interstates carry about 40 percent of the nation’s total traffic, despite only accounting for about one percent of the total roadways in the country. In addition, interstates carry about 70 percent of all commercial traffic.
The closure will, among other things, allow for the repair of the decrepit Rouge River Bridge which has reached its end of life. At eight-lanes and 1.6-miles, it’s the largest in the state.
With this closure looming, we wondered… what goes into repairing a one-mile stretch of highway?
Consider this:
- Assuming one lane is 14 feet wide, one mile of a four-lane road requires about 85,000 tons of aggregate – the crushed stone and sand at the base of the road – and about 16,500 tons of concrete.
- That translates to more than 410,000 80-pound bags of concrete. By comparison, a 10x10-foot patio slab needs only six bags.
- The U.S. produces more than two billion tons of aggregate each year. It is the only mineral commodity produced in all 50 states.
Total Quality Logistics arranges the movement of more than 3,500 commodities, including the materials that keep our nation’s roads in good repair. Whether it's full truckload, LTL or intermodal, call TQL at 800-580-3101 to request a quote or get set up as a carrier.