Permeable Streets (The New Age of Construction)   “The recollection of quality remains long after price is forgotten” —Shoe Manufacturer E.C. Simmons [22 June 1922] “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.” —anonymous. Do these quotes have an effect on you? Don’t they ring a bell inside saying: “Been there; done that.” Generally, you pay for what you get. Construction job sites throughout America are basically awarded on the lowest bidder. Though the intent of “Lowest Bidder” appears wise on the surface, it also sets up the opportunity for inferior quality, corruption and eventual cost burdening repairs. Enough! Since the introduction of “Going Green Infrastructure” and “Sustainability” has been advocated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), massive migration towards better quality and product efficiency has reappeared. Municipalities, public and private sector construction has shifted their design criteria to reflect the new growing trend within the building and landscaping industries. Towards the top of the list of wrong-doing or negative windfalls, are our roads. From super highways to small driveways, the wrath of poor construction and corrupt contractors flourish. Enough! Roads in Europe generally last twice as long as American roads. That’s based primarily on design and maintenance models used by Europeans. Whereas, in America, more effort is placed on lowest-cost contracts and quick-fix repair mentality. Between 2008 and 2011, US States collectively spent $20.4 billion annually to build new roads and over $16.5 billion annually repairing and preserving the other 99 percent of roadways. According, State DOTs need to spend $43 billion dollars every year for 20 years to bring roads in poor condition into a good standard*. Enough! Having a good road infrastructure with low maintenance […]