Daily conversation: What is the worst possible answer?

[kphoger]

Wow. What an original idea. Wish I thought of that.

I know.  It's hard to think of a worse system.

[The_Ginger]

25JAN2026

Especially in mountainous regions, it's well known that building new freeway is difficult, not to mention when state DOT's don't have the funding to do so.

How would you solve this issue?

[The_Ginger]

25JAN2026

Especially in mountainous regions, it's well known that building new freeway is difficult, not to mention when state DOT's don't have the funding to do so.

How would you solve this issue?

"Hire" aliens to grade and drain the path of the road. Let them keep all of the precious Earth material, and then the state would have to simply pave and sign the road. Tax dollars saved, and a win for interplanetary cooperation.

[kphoger]

25JAN2026

Especially in mountainous regions, it's well known that building new freeway is difficult, not to mention when state DOT's don't have the funding to do so.

How would you solve this issue?

Demolish all roads that cross a mountain range.  Then there's no need to upgrade them to freeways anymore.

[1995hoo]

25JAN2026

Especially in mountainous regions, it's well known that building new freeway is difficult, not to mention when state DOT's don't have the funding to do so.

How would you solve this issue?

Have Trump issue an executive order.

[Mapmikey]

25JAN2026

Especially in mountainous regions, it's well known that building new freeway is difficult, not to mention when state DOT's don't have the funding to do so.

How would you solve this issue?

Hire aliens to grade and drain the path of the road. Let them keep all of the precious Earth material, and then the state would have to simply pave and sign the road. Tax dollars saved, and a win for interplanetary cooperation.

A version of this actually exists with coal companies in SW Virginia and possibly southern WV.

[The_Ginger]

"Hire" aliens to grade and drain the path of the road. Let them keep all of the precious Earth material, and then the state would have to simply pave and sign the road. Tax dollars saved, and a win for interplanetary cooperation.

A version of this actually exists with coal companies in SW Virginia and possibly southern WV.

That's how I came up with my idea. This section (scroll down) of the King Coal Highway was done in that fashion, I believe.

[kphoger]

Hire aliens

screw the I-9, amirite

[The_Ginger]

"Hire" aliens

screw the I-9, amirite

FIFY

[Big John]

Hire aliens

screw the I-9, amirite

Why against that Interstate?

[kphoger]

screw the I-9, amirite

Why against that Interstate?

It doesn't cross a mountain range.

[GaryV]

25JAN2026

Especially in mountainous regions, it's well known that building new freeway is difficult, not to mention when state DOT's don't have the funding to do so.

How would you solve this issue?

Use the stockpile of nuclear bombs to blast through. It might have the added benefit of having enough residual energy to melt snow in the winter.

[Scott5114]

25JAN2026

Especially in mountainous regions, it's well known that building new freeway is difficult, not to mention when state DOT's don't have the funding to do so.

How would you solve this issue?

[The_Ginger]

Would work like a charm! As a bonus, the shavings could be ground (pun intended) and used for valley fills.

[Dirt Roads]

25JAN2026

Especially in mountainous regions, it's well known that building new freeway is difficult, not to mention when state DOT's don't have the funding to do so.

How would you solve this issue?

Hire aliens to grade and drain the path of the road. Let them keep all of the precious Earth material, and then the state would have to simply pave and sign the road. Tax dollars saved, and a win for interplanetary cooperation.

A version of this actually exists with coal companies in SW Virginia and possibly southern WV.

Definitely in West Virginia, as well.  Both the King Coal and the Coalfields have sections built over reclaimed strip mines (and perhaps you could include the West Virginia Turnpike's tunnel bypass cut, that encountered all sorts of underground coal mine shafts and tunnels). 

Fun fact:  WVU researchers have determined that core samples indicate there are significant lithium deposits associated with various coal seams throughout the Mountain State.  It is postulated that much of those lithium deposits have already been mined out and brought to the surface along with other waste mine tailings.  Who knows how much lithium exists under West Virginia's state road system that were once paved with "Red Dog"?  We've got plenty of aliens to thank:  Braxxie and Mothman included.

[TheCatalyst31]

25JAN2026

Especially in mountainous regions, it's well known that building new freeway is difficult, not to mention when state DOT's don't have the funding to do so.

How would you solve this issue?

[Sapphuby]

25JAN2026

Especially in mountainous regions, it's well known that building new freeway is difficult, not to mention when state DOT's don't have the funding to do so.

How would you solve this issue?

Backfill every low-elevation point so that the mountain is uniform and now impossible to cross, and then build a highly expensive and narrow tunnel.

[The_Ginger]

26JAN2026

What snow and ice removal method would you use to fully clear roads?

[hotdogPi]

26JAN2026

What snow and ice removal method would you use to fully clear roads?

Protest signs. That's what those signs in the last few days were about, right?

[1995hoo]

26JAN2026

What snow and ice removal method would you use to fully clear roads?

Require everyone to drink as much beer as possible, then go outside and "drain" the beer onto the nearest road so as to melt the snow.

[kphoger]

26JAN2026

What snow and ice removal method would you use to fully clear roads?

Spray it with water.

Protest signs. That's what those signs in the last few days were about, right?

Clever!

[The_Ginger]

26JAN2026

What snow and ice removal method would you use to fully clear roads?

Drive a road roller on the snow and ice. Then, it's practically another layer of asphalt, and the cars can drive on it with ease. You can also spray water on the layer to help keep it compacted.

[Dirt Roads]

26JAN2026

What snow and ice removal method would you use to fully clear roads?

Keeping with tradition, back in September [almost] everyone took their couch onto the street in Sunnyside and set them ablaze after the Pitt game.  But from what I can tell, it's been a long while since WVU students burnt their couches during a heavy snow.  That is sure to melt the snow off of US-119 in Morgantown, and the remaining ashes can be used to treat the side streets.

[Sapphuby]

26JAN2026

What snow and ice removal method would you use to fully clear roads?

Pour enough road salt down to turn the road into interim gravel so that the ice is now hidden

[Max Rockatansky]

26JAN2026

What snow and ice removal method would you use to fully clear roads?

Smooth it out with a Zamboni.