PRINCIPLES OF PAVEMENT PRESERVATION: DEFINITIONS, BENEFITS, ISSUES, AND BARRIERS

Pavement preservation focuses on preserving the pavement asset while maximizing the economic efficiency of the investment. The United States maintains nearly 3.95 million miles of public roads, much of which is wearing out because of increased traffic, environmental effects, and a lack of proper maintenance. By developing a strategic plan that includes pavement preservation, the United States can finance future highway capacity while addressing the needs of the current system. This article presents a discussion of the need for standard definitions of terms; establishing a customer-focused program to provide and maintain serviceable roadways cost-effectively, encompassing preventive and corrective maintenance, as well as minor rehabilitation; the benefits of pavement preservation; the need for support and input from staff in planning, finance, design, construction, materials, and maintenance, as well as long-term commitment from agency leadership and a dedicated annual budget; and issues and barriers.