15
Is your road network performing at its highest potential? Are you seeking ways to extend pavement life while working within a constrained budget? This guide outlines five essential questions to help county engineers, agencies and highway managers establish or enhance a pavement preservation program. Whether you are initiating a new strategy or refining an existing one, these questions will help you make informed, sustainable decisions for your county.
Pavement preservation is not optional—it is essential. A well-planned program supports:
Your objectives should guide your strategy. A common agency goal is increasing net pavement condition index, a.k.a. improving network health by raising the average network condition/serviceability. This results in extending pavement life, enhancing safety and improving user satisfaction.
It is important to recognize that not all roads require the same goals. The reason is twofold: each road in a network is at a different condition level and agency-assigned reliability criteria may be different for each road. For example, a low-volume, single-use road may have a different maintenance trigger than a major collector road. Factors such as traffic volume, anticipated growth and current pavement conditions should inform your priorities. A structured goal-setting process ensures that each roadway receives the appropriate treatment at the right time.
Consider the range of available treatments, including:
Evaluate what is locally available and how each option aligns with your network’s goals.
Establishing a reliable system to assess pavement condition is foundational. This may range from costly and detailed data collection to manual visual inspections, depending on your county’s resources (see chart of methods below). Some states, like Indiana, require each county to have a PASER or other rating for their system to feed a treatment decision matrix for various types of funding.
Methods for assessing pavement conditions
No matter the method, the outcome should be a database that tracks pavement condition over time, enabling prioritization and treatment selection. The key is to have an objective system.
At any given time in a pavement life cycle, a road may exhibit varying physical “symptoms” as a result of aging, traffic and other factors. Effective preservation requires matching symptoms to the correct treatment. Understanding the full range of available tools is critical. Some agencies may rely on a few proven methods, while others utilize a broader mix. The goal is to apply the right treatment to the right road at the right time, based on pavement condition and performance objectives.
There are two basic types of pavement distress: Functional and Structural.
It is important to note that a pavement may exhibit either or both types of distress at any given time, but that generally functional distresses occur first and begin nearly immediately after construction. These foundational distress typically manifest slowly but progress rapidly.
Importantly, since pavement preservation processes typically do not impact structural capacity (with the exception of recycling rehabilitation), preservation treatments are most effective early in a pavement’s life. By targeting an early-life treatment strategy, onset of structural distress is delayed, thereby prolonging pavement life cycle. Explore the treatment options with the RoadResource.org Treatment Toolbox.
This chart is an example of how a full toolbox of treatments can be applied to a road at the optimal season, to extend the life of the pavement from 13-20 years to 30+ years.
Stage 1: VRAM (Void Reducing Asphalt Membrane), a.k.a. J-Band®, is applied at the longitudinal joint just before paving and permeates up into the mix, creating a durable joint. It is proven to extend joint life by an extra 3-5 years, saving agencies from future repair costs.
Stage 2: RPE-R (Rapid Penetrating Emulsion-Rejuvenate) a.k.a. AMIGUARD™, is a liquid, bio-oil-based (non-asphalt) emulsion, spray applied with a standard distributor. It is chemically designed to physically permeate the mixture void structure and react with the asphalt binder to offset the aging gradient, reduce surface distress and seal the surface. RPE-R can be applied on top of striping as it dries translucent.
Stage 4-6: Micro Surfacing (or a combo treatment of Chip Seal + Micro = Cape Seal) is designed to extend the life of asphalt pavements in good or fair condition. These are some of the most cost-effective ways to get more life out of a road that may have a surface wheel-rutting problem or a variety of other road surface problems.
Stage 7: Cold recycling methods, whether performed in-place or at a nearby site, are a sustainable, cost-effective and reliable way to address structural distress and create a solid foundation for re-paving.
VRAM, RPE-R, Micro Surfacing, Cold In-Place Recycling
Financial constraints often limit preservation efforts. However, several funding sources can supplement local budgets:
Resources to explore:
Learning from peer agencies can accelerate success. Case studies from counties such as Monroe (MI), Sheboygan (WI), Jersey (IL) and Champaign (IL) demonstrate effective strategies. Explore educational webinars and award-winning programs to gain insights.
A successful pavement preservation program combines targeted treatments with a data-driven approach. Begin by assessing your network, defining clear goals and exploring available resources. Maintain a “toolbox” mentality. And don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Special thanks to our friends at Asphalt Materials, Inc. for collaborating on this article.
