What the Helen of Troy is This

What the Helen of Troy are These? And Why Have They Been Here For YEARS??

I’ve been meaning to ask you guys about this for ages and well, forever has finally arrived – what in the world are these doing here? I know for a temporary patch – fine. But these have been on 38th Street and Albermarle literally for years. Why don’t they get properly paved? Anyone know what’s going on here?