PennDOT Rant
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
PennDOT Rant
I'll try to be civil. Just back from taking a ride to the paint store. Normally I like to take the back way home over some nice country roads. However they have ALL been ruined with PennDOT's tar and chip process. I continued out the 4 lane planing to come back on a major 2 lane State Route. Nope, they got it too. I had to listen to pea gravel banging off the car for an 1/8 mile till I could get turned around.
Whomever specifies this crap obviously has no regaurd for peoples property. I think they should be tared and chipped themselves. I guess everyone is suposed to drive a honed out minivan and not worry about these things.
Is this a process that is applied across the country? Or is it just reserved for certain poor counties in Pennsylvania?? I noticed it seems to follow county lines of which I am unfortunately located near. This crap in the summer and road salt in the winter. Can't seem to win.
Whomever specifies this crap obviously has no regaurd for peoples property. I think they should be tared and chipped themselves. I guess everyone is suposed to drive a honed out minivan and not worry about these things.
Is this a process that is applied across the country? Or is it just reserved for certain poor counties in Pennsylvania?? I noticed it seems to follow county lines of which I am unfortunately located near. This crap in the summer and road salt in the winter. Can't seem to win.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 606
Likes: 18
From: burke va
I visited my son in Ft. Collins, Colorado last summer and he let me use his C5 while I was there. I got trapped in a paving project like you described and could not believe they would pave like that, it sounded like thousands of marbles being slung up against the car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,629
Likes: 7
From: Lawrenceville PA
I'm pretty sure PA isn't the only state that does that but I agree that it could ruin your day. I've had something similar happen where I had to pretty much crawl until I could find another route but there was always some asshat in a pickup who would fly by spraying the crap all over my car. I feel your pain.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Nazareth PA
I'm pretty sure PA isn't the only state that does that but I agree that it could ruin your day. I've had something similar happen where I had to pretty much crawl until I could find another route but there was always some asshat in a pickup who would fly by spraying the crap all over my car. I feel your pain.
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They did the same thing in some Chicago burbs in the late 80s. I wasn't driving a Corvette back then, but I did take pride in my Camaro and Thunderbird.
At the time, I thought it was the stupidest idea ever. I felt really bad for the people who actually lived on these streets filled with oily marbles!
At the time, I thought it was the stupidest idea ever. I felt really bad for the people who actually lived on these streets filled with oily marbles!
Last edited by MSG C5; Jun 8, 2012 at 09:01 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
I'm pretty sure PA isn't the only state that does that but I agree that it could ruin your day. I've had something similar happen where I had to pretty much crawl until I could find another route but there was always some asshat in a pickup who would fly by spraying the crap all over my car. I feel your pain.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Hershey PA
Ouch!! I live in PA and feel your pain
I have come upon some of this roadwork and done a U-Turn and driven 20 miles out of my way to try to avoid it.
It's a cheap way to try to seal the road surface without paving it.
If you are lucky, they will post what roads they plan to do on the PennDOT web page and even post "Fresh Oil" signs.
I was told that if the oil and chip process is done correctly, there shouldn't be too many loose stones flying around.
Of course, as with many things now-a-days, "done correctly" seems to be a thing of the past.
Just wait until it gets HOT and the oil flies, too
I have come upon some of this roadwork and done a U-Turn and driven 20 miles out of my way to try to avoid it.It's a cheap way to try to seal the road surface without paving it.
If you are lucky, they will post what roads they plan to do on the PennDOT web page and even post "Fresh Oil" signs.
I was told that if the oil and chip process is done correctly, there shouldn't be too many loose stones flying around.
Of course, as with many things now-a-days, "done correctly" seems to be a thing of the past.
Just wait until it gets HOT and the oil flies, too
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Yes they posted signs "Fresh Oil & Chips" Some kid spray painted "Yummy" under one of them. 
The signs have sprung up everywhere around here like dandilions.
As the other posted said, I feel sorry for anyone that lives on one of those roads. I'm sure they aren't responsible for any damage since they can say they posted the signs.
In the words of Willie Nelson. "If I ever find out who "they" are...I'll shoot the SOB.
The signs have sprung up everywhere around here like dandilions.As the other posted said, I feel sorry for anyone that lives on one of those roads. I'm sure they aren't responsible for any damage since they can say they posted the signs.
In the words of Willie Nelson. "If I ever find out who "they" are...I'll shoot the SOB.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Southwest Kansas
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Kansas still does it somewhat.....our little town is the worst culprit. And after they have done it 10 or 15 times, the dips through the intersections get worse and worse. To the point of where I can't drive the Corvette through many of them. I tell people that when driving a Corvette in this town you really have to plan your route.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
I forgot to mention that once this stuff finally wears down, you end up with these ridges where the tar was thinner & thicker from the sprayer. That can be interesting on the Harley. Almost like crossing an open grate bridge. Actually the loose chips can be fatal on a bike. How can this be justified is beyond me.
Sorry, this is my pet pieve for today.
Sorry, this is my pet pieve for today.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
They started using it here in VA a little while back, it seems like they use it when they are trying to patch a lot of holes really quick. All they do is drive a truck with a boom on it and spray whatever it is out from the boom and into the holes.
Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,574
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From: Lookin over Hoover Dam
Pa is a dump, they tar and chip, locales road crews mismanage sh*t, the cops are corrupt as all hell (I worked for E Pgh/TurtleCreek/North Braddock...I know facts about other locales as well).
Want a good life...move...
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,403
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C5 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I'll try to be civil. Just back from taking a ride to the paint store. Normally I like to take the back way home over some nice country roads. However they have ALL been ruined with PennDOT's tar and chip process. I continued out the 4 lane planing to come back on a major 2 lane State Route. Nope, they got it too. I had to listen to pea gravel banging off the car for an 1/8 mile till I could get turned around.
Whomever specifies this crap obviously has no regaurd for peoples property. I think they should be tared and chipped themselves. I guess everyone is suposed to drive a honed out minivan and not worry about these things.
Is this a process that is applied across the country? Or is it just reserved for certain poor counties in Pennsylvania?? I noticed it seems to follow county lines of which I am unfortunately located near. This crap in the summer and road salt in the winter. Can't seem to win.
Whomever specifies this crap obviously has no regaurd for peoples property. I think they should be tared and chipped themselves. I guess everyone is suposed to drive a honed out minivan and not worry about these things.
Is this a process that is applied across the country? Or is it just reserved for certain poor counties in Pennsylvania?? I noticed it seems to follow county lines of which I am unfortunately located near. This crap in the summer and road salt in the winter. Can't seem to win.
LOL
