Musical Roadways Keep Drivers Alert & Prevent Speeding

Did you know that there are musical secrets hidden under asphalt in various places of the United States? In construction, transverse strips are grooves in asphalt that cross the entire road to signal the driver to slow down. Imagine if these strips could create music?

Well, they can! If done correctly.

While highway engineers aim to mitigate the effects of uneven pavement, this unique form relies on these vibrations within the road to produce music. Creating these grooves is also a safety precaution on lengthy roadways where individuals may fall asleep or lose control. It keeps people entertained and awake.

What?

Musical roads are made of irregular grooves in asphalt that produce a musical tone when a car travels over them at a specific pace.

In Auburn, Alabama, there is a musical road located as you drive into the Auburn University campus at 35 mph. The speed limit and the distance of the grooves are strategically placed to play “War Eagle,” Auburn’s fight song. This is the first musical road on a school campus in the US. Other musical roads are located in California and New Mexico.

How?

Driving at a given speed over the road’s grooves causes vibrations in the automobile. By altering the lengths between the strips on the road, vibrations produce an audible sound that can be sensed through the car’s wheels. Because of the uneven ground, this rumbling sound generates a rhythmic tone and a song.

Why?

The concept of musical highways was developed in order to keep people interested and alert while driving lengthy stretches of roadway. It is easy to doze off, but these tactics help individuals slow down and stay alert. Keeping drivers amused and aware while driving allows automobiles approaching intersections and congested parts of town to be fully prepared to slow down.

Team Cam are experts in paving including highways and large intersections and can create these types of projects for the state, colleges, counties, or cities. It is a company you can trust for quality work. Call us today at (443) 991-8059, if located in Maryland or the greater Baltimore/DC area.