Terrible Roads Houston Medical Center Unfortunately, not all is well within the context of the Houston Medical Center. Residents and workers alike are being plagued with poor quality roads that are creating a situation where many are at a disadvantage in their own everyday lives. Potholes and poor roads throughout the Houston Medical Center facility are creating many residents and faculty alike to have to put up with poorly constructed roads, and thus potential damage to their own vehicles when driving on roads within the region. It is ridiculous in an era where public funds are being spent across the country for the residents of the Houston Medical Center region to have to continuously put up with such horrible road conditions. This can essentially create a situation where there is damage undertaken by vehicles driving on the premises. Vehicles of all types are being damaged while driving in the region. Moreover, there are financial concerns in that commuters in the area then have the burden of cost when it comes to repairing vehicles damaged. Vehicles are damaged more easily while on such unreliable and horrible road conditions.

Problem Background

Highways and other throughways are popular throughout a number of major metropolitan areas. Since the 1950s, the construction of roads and highways has created an intense urban network of roads that take individuals from the suburbs into more urban areas (Dwight D. Eisenhower Library 2006). Yet, many of the roads that were first established in the middle of the twentieth century are now finding themselves in a state of disrepair. There are a number of potential reasons for the roads in the area suffering as they have, but most of all it has been a neglect of road maintenance duties by both the general public and the local law makers. The Houston Medical Center area has unfortunately seen a great deal of damage to its roadways....

In general, the neighborhood has been depreciating in value. This has only increased with the condition of the roads throughout the area. Residents are now looking to migrate to other areas around the greater Houston area. City officials and community activists alike are now looking for potential solutions that include methods for cleaning up the roadways as a way to make the area much more attractive to homeowners and businesses.
Purpose of Proposal

There are a number of reasons why this research is important to the health and well-being of the Huston Medical Center area. Essentially, the research will first explore the potential reasoning for why the roads have gotten so bad in the first place. Thus, there will be an examination as to what potential causes led to the terrible conditions the roads are currently in. Included in this discussion are issues of prior maintenance. Moreover, the research will explore issues within weather patterns to help discern what factors could naturally be contributing to such poor road conditions in the region. Prior research has proven that winter weather can wreak havoc on roads around the country (Kuemnel, 1994). For example, frost could be a major factor -- as during the winter months, any frost that accumulates on the roads can influence the asphalt to crack and splinter, essentially giving birth to a pothole later as water continues to erode the asphalt away during times of rain (Takle 1990). Secondly the type of asphalt used could also be a major contributor to the health and condition of the roads as they stand today. The type of asphalt used is often particular to individual regions (Zakar, 1971). Additionally, the choice in asphalt type can have a huge impact on how well the roads hold up (Schnormeir, 1986). However, most importantly, the purpose of this research is to explore the real impact of the road situation in terms of…