Final answer:
Corrugations occur at places where vehicles frequently stop and start because the forces exerted by vehicles, especially when combined with increased traffic volumes and safety concerns, cause road surface degradation. These forces are pronounced at traffic signals, on curves, and on hills, leading to uneven road surfaces over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Corrugations in the road surface often occur at places where traffic stops and starts, such as near traffic signals, close to curves, and on hills. This can be attributed to several reasons, primarily related to the physics of moving vehicles and the stress they exert on the pavement. When vehicles decelerate or accelerate, especially heavy vehicles, they impart significant force onto the road surface. The common occurrence of starting and stopping at traffic signals means that the pavement in these areas experiences a high frequency of shear stress.
Near curves and on hills, vehicles must often slow down to navigate the turn or ascent safely. The combination of braking forces and the gravitational pull experienced especially when going uphill contributes to road wear. This wear and tear can lead to corrugation, causing uneven road surfaces that necessitate maintenance. Furthermore, areas such as these with higher traffic incidents and safety concerns, like the intersection described at Clay Street and Eagle Avenue, are often controlled with traffic signals for safety, which in turn contributes to localized pavement stress.
Another significant factor in road surface degradation is the volume of traffic, which has increased due to the development of nearby businesses and changes in traffic routing for events. A manufacturing plant opening and the expansion of a strip mall result in more vehicles using these roads, requiring traffic control measures such as traffic signals to manage the increased flow and ensure pedestrian safety. This, again, increases the frequency of vehicles stopping and starting, exacerbating the corrugation issue.