1. http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-04/bouncy-thic...
For us uninitiated - why? Quality if the roads there?
as such, they experience lots of freezing and thawing, experience high traffic from lots of tractor trailers and snow plows, and get coated with de-icing materials (salt, or more recently sand-based grit in some areas). synergistically, these conditions are extremely rough on paved roads, so potholes are ubiquitous and painful.
When I was living there, road signs saying "Steel Plate on Road" were a common sight. I remember the city fixed a water pipe and instead of re-paving the street, they just left several giant 4ft x 8ft steel plates with corresponding sign for over a year.
I live about an hour south of Erie, PA and the road I travel to and from work has needed resurfaced after every winter over the last 3 or 4 years.