Roads wear out over time from everyday traffic, heavy vehicles, weather, and other environmental factors. In North Texas, the soil under our streets also plays an important role. Arlington has mostly clay soil, which swells when it gets wet and shrinks when it dries. This movement puts stress on the pavement and can cause cracks. Once cracks form, water can get into the layers below the street, weakening the roadway, and speeding up damage. This makes water one of the leading causes of pavement failure.
Because clay soil weakens and damages roadways quicker, repairs are needed much sooner and more often. The additional roadway repairs increase maintenance costs.
To help reduce soil impacts, the City has invested in stronger soil preparation standards during construction since 2009. These standards increase construction costs but help to create a more stable base for streets and reduce damage from moisture, which helps roads last longer and perform better.