Why is it that railroad crossings are always so rough?

You'd think with technology would bring with it the know how to solve one of the biggest problems with the transportation industry. And yes, Concrete works much better and withstands more than a typical asphalt application. Some places have concrete underlayment with an iron grid that fits between the tracks making a smoother crossing.

Contact the DOT in your area. It's mainly their responsibility to take care of any problems pertaining to transportation. If nothing gets done, talk to your state's elected officials. If they don't listen, elect new people.

Most often, the railroad tracks were there first, so perhaps the question should be rephrased and posed to the highway department.

But still, you will have ground shifting, water washing out the base, and natural wear of road materials. Just got to slow down a bit so you don't knock your alignment out.

Slowing down for tracks a good idea anyway. Lights and gates are dependant on technology and human maintenance, and the human element is the most likely place to have problems. There is never a guarentee that the crossbars will fall or the lights blink to warn of an oncoming train, so you still should slow down and look both ways. Not doing so is not bright.

The railroad's frequently use concrete. You still have the tracks that you have to cross, and there are gaps on each side of the 2 rails. Can't get away from that, unless you have a hover car.

Actually, the difference is the thickness of the wood used at the crossing. Many railroads use thin sheets of wood, (or else it would be extremely bumpy) but that makes it impossible to get across smoothly because you are constantly bumping up and down with the height differences. They do this because it saves them money. (Less wood.) In my area, they began to fix problem railroad crossings, so now they are as smooth as, well, something smooth. There aren't really any ideas to patent.

the reason that RC`s are "so rough" (as you put it) , is simple.

the cross-road (bitumen) is laid right up to the Track.

the cross-road only carries vehicles up to around 60+ tonnes of vehicle Mass on a VERY small number/percentage of Movement.

Rail-road Tracks (how-ever) carry vehicle Limits of in excess of 100 Tonnes , each time a Train moves along the Track.

have you got the message yet?......it`s called "WEIGHT".

the more weight , the more down-ward push you have on the rails.

every-thing is `aligned` correctly , at time of Construction , but movement and Time will cause the Tracks to sink lower than the road and there-fore , cause the Bumpiness.that you experience , while crossing the Tracks.

I believe it is up to the highway dept. to lay asphalt.