Strange Soap-like Substance Appearing on Maine Roads
Above: A soapsuds-like substance on Route 167 between Fort Fairfield and Presque Isle on July 27. It was not localized in one area, but remained on the road all the way from Fort to Presque Isle. So far, neither Fort Fairfield Highway Dept. nor the Maine Dept. of Transportation have been able to explain this substance. photo/David Deschesne
By: David Deschesne
Fort Fairfield Journal, August 20, 2014
A phenomenon which started this summer is a strange soapsuds-looking compound on the roads during heavy rains.
These strange suds were noticed by this writer on Fort Fairfield’s Main Street after a rain during the Maine Potato Blossom Festival and spanned from the V.F.W. all the way down to Hillside IGA. A week later, on July 27, a massive trail of suds was noticed on Route 167 from Fort Fairfield all the way into Presque Isle.
The suds seem to form in low-lying spots where water puddles and cars driving through agitate it. The groves in the road where tires wear the pavement lower also collects water that turns to suds. On the particular rain on July 20, the suds were so prominent they collected on the shoulder of the road creating a frothy, foamy substance over 1 inch thick in places (see photo, this page).
These suds have been apparently appearing all across the U.S. Rob Silva, roads division manager of the Sonoma County Transportation and Public Works Department in California has explained the suds in his area are due to the oil from freshly resurfaced roads mixing with water.
“The resurface of Petrified Forest Road was a rubberized chip seal, a larger rock was placed on the bottom coat with a smaller ¼” chip as the top surface coat. What happens with a traditional asphalt surface in hot weather is the heat draws oil to the surface,” explained Silva. “In the fall when we have our first rains you always hear the CHP advise traffic to slow down as the pavement surface is especially slippery through the first couple of rains. This is because road oil that has come to the surface in the summer heat is sitting on top, mixing with rainwater. Chip seal oils will do the same. I’ve seen this more often with chip seal surfaces than pavement -– an asphalt paved surface is smooth where a chipped surface has a more coarse surface, which allows more oxygen to mix with oils and dirt down between the rock, creating the foamy look when traffic rides on it and mixes it.”
While this may explain some of the appearance of suds, the roads here in Aroostook County where it was noticed have not be resurfaced for quite some time, which is evidenced by the tire groove wear marks in the roads, and any oil in the asphalt that may leach out, would have come out by now.
George Watson, from the Fort Fairfield Public Works Department was not able to explain the substance and the Fort Fairfield Journal is still waiting on any response from the Maine Department of Transportation.
A soapsuds-like material was seen in Fort Fairfield during a rain on the opening weekend of the Maine Potato Blossom Festival. These suds were extant from the V.F.W. on Presque Isle Street all the way through town to at least Hillside IGA. photo/David Deschesne