Comparison of Roads Made of Paver Blocks, R.C.C. & Bitumen

Concrete road paving is quickly reaching higher popularity than Bitumen and R.C.C, and the reasons are so many.

Read on to discover how Paver blocks roads are more popular than the other two.

Today, we are going to compare Paver, RCC, and Bitumen Road, let’s see which one is stronger, durable, and environmentally friendly?

 

Features of Paver Blocks, R.C.C. & Bitumen

1. Life Expectancy

When we talk about roads life expectancy, Paver Blocks and R.C.C roads are good enough in this section, around 20 years life-span of both Paver Blocks and R.C.C roads.

Whereas Bitumen roads life expectancy is less, around 5 to 10 years.

2. Initial Cost

In the section of initial cost; Paver, R.C.C., and Bitumen differ from each other.

R.C.C. road’s initial cost is very high and Paver block road’s initial cost is medium whereas Bitumen roads are low cost than the other two.

3. Construction Time

Paver Blocks’ construction time is medium as pavers are laid manually, after construction immediate use is possible.

Reinforced Cement Concrete construction time is very high as after construction, 15 to 20 days require for curing.

Bitumen roads construction time is low. After completing construction, its use is possible within 1 or 2 days.

4. Rainwater Drainage

In paver blocks Permeable pavers allow water to pass through to the base thereby reducing pooling or flooding in heavy rain that is the marvelous advantage of the paver blocks.

In the Reinforced Cement Concretes surface is impermeable and drainage must be achieved by proper surface camber and slope.

Whereas Bitumen (Asphalt) roads surface is impermeable and drainage must be achieved by proper surface camber and slope.

5. Safety

Paver block roads safety is good and skid resistance, it helps reduce braking distance.

R.C.C. safety is prone to slippage and skidding during rain and due to spills.

While Bitumen (Asphalt) roads also have good traction and skid resistance.

6. Surface Cracks

Paver block roads surface is not affected by rainwater or thermal heat of expansion. (Due to small unit size and mass)

The surface of R.C.C. is prone to cracks due to large thermal mass and due to poor base preparation.

While Bitumen roads surface is Heavy rains, extreme temperatures and wear and tear result in cracks and rutting leading to potholes.

7. Repairs

Repairing of paver block roads is easy, fast, and inexpensive as even a single paver block can be removed, and re-laid/ replaced.

The advantage is that repaired area is available for immediate use. 

Repair of R.C.C. is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive as the whole concrete slab may have to be replaced and recast.

Repair of Bitumen, Cracks, potholes can be repaired inexpensively and quickly by patchwork.

But the repaired area is often not durable due to poor work quality.

8. Reuse

Pavers Same blocks can remove and reinstate after repairs.

R.C.C. Cannot reuse but at the same time, it can crush recycling.

Same in the Bitumen, it cannot reuse but it can crush for recycling.

9. Quality

Paver blocks produce in large volumes to meet stringent specifications and Indian Standards for strength, water absorption, abrasion resistance, and dimensional tolerances. 

R.C.C. is cast at the site and hence dependent on the quality of concrete and compaction at the site.

Since bitumen roads are a supple driveway, their strength relies heavily on the subgrade, subbase, and base materials compress nicely and the correct material.

10. Environmental Issues

Paver blocks roads are totally environment friendly; it has no harmful effects on nature.

R.C.C. Concrete construction has no harmful effects on the environment.

Whereas the process of melting bitumen creates greenhouse gases that contribute to environmental pollution.

11. Color and Shapes

Paver blocks are available in distinct colors and shapes, making them immensely variable.

On the other hand, the R.C.C. and Bitumen roads have no distinct color or shape.