Elongated bendable drainage mat

A highway system comprising a pavement section and a shoulder, positioned adjacent to the pavement section to form a joint therebetween, and a vertically-oriented, elongated, bendable drainage mat having a rectangular cross section;

• wherein said mat comprises a polymeric core having a plurality of substantially rigid fingers extending from one side of a layer and an enveloping water permeable fabric;
• wherein said fabric has a permitivity from 0.2 seconds.sup.-1 to 2.0 seconds.sup.-1 and exhibits a dynamic permeability after 10.sup.6 loadings of a least 10.sup.-4 centimeters per second;
• wherein said mat has an upper edge positioned in substantial alignment with the joint, said edge being positioned sufficiently close to said joint to intercept substantially all of any water passing through said joint to thereby prevent said water from spreading under said pavement section and shoulder.

A traffic carrying surface system comprising at least two pavement sections separated by an elongated joint and at least one vertically-oriented elongated drainage mat having a rectangular cross-section installed below, in substantial alignment with, and proximate to said elongated joint, said elongated drainage mat comprising a polymeric core having a plurality of substantially rigid fingers extending from one side of a layer and an enveloping water permeable fabric, wherein said fabric has a permittivity from 0.2 seconds.sup.-1 to 2.0 seconds.sup.-1 and exhibits a dynamic permeability after 10.sub.6 loadings of at least 10.sup.-4 centimeters per second, such that said drainage mat is resistant to soil pluggage from pulsing water flow.