Crossing A/C paved roads without protection of the pavement is always detrimental to the life of the roadway. Even "flat track" machines can cause damages.
The first place to break down and be obvious is the edge of pavement at the aggregate shoulder. This is where the entire weight of the machine is transfered from one grade level to another, althogh not at once, it is cumulative. From there, fractures follow, then water intrusion softens the base.
If it is HOT, grousers will effectively break the surface and then ravelling begins, the start of major failures. This does occur on colder pavements but not to the extent as when the A/C is hot and more pliable. Anytime a void is created in the surface, the adjacent materials break away at those edges causing the depression to enlarge, eventually to a pothole.
If forced to cross A/C - protect the edges, do not cause the machine to climb to reach the level of the roadway, cross as close to 90 degrees as possible, do not turn.
Asphalt Concrete Pavements are not all the same, oils and aggregates differ along with additives. Base condition, age of A/C, temperature and weather conditiions all are considerations.
Crawling from a concrete apron to a raised concrete floor will also break the edge of the floor.
As JM stated, some areas have placed heavy reenforced concrete crossings just to accomodate the major crossings, but these are only found on low volume roads, as example, county and not state or federal.
Yes, speaking from experence as both an operator and as a maintenance professional.
CTS
