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Pavement Evaluation - Des Moines, IA

Pavement Management

Preservation Plans for Long-Term Success

Many communities are currently grappling with the challenge of effectively managing and planning for the maintenance of their roadways. This task has become increasingly difficult due to limited budgets allocated for road improvement projects. However, maintaining the quality of road surfaces is of paramount importance as it serves as a valuable community asset. To achieve this, a strategic approach is necessary to minimize expenses associated with street repairs.

Pavement management involves a systematic approach that encompasses inspecting the condition of pavements and predicting their future condition. These assessments are used to formulate well-informed strategies for repairs and maintenance. By adopting such an approach, communities can optimize their expenditure. This involves creating a financial blueprint that encompasses various pavement enhancement techniques, such as rehabilitation, preservation, and reconstruction.

Our team specializes in the proficient application of pavement preservation techniques. We have extensive experience in crafting and executing financially responsible pavement management programs. Furthermore, we are dedicated to the advancement of concrete pavement preservation methods, leveraging our collaboration with the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center (CP Tech Center) to drive progress in preservation technologies and training.

Creating a Pavement Management Plan that Works for Your Community

To tailor a program that suits your specific requirements, we will initiate a meaningful dialogue to identify priorities and formulate an investment plan that optimizes the utilization of resources. We place special emphasis on evaluating the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) for each pavement. Depending on the level of deterioration and the classification (usage intensity), we allocate preservation and rehabilitation strategies.

The outcome of this program will be the extension of pavement lifespan and an enhancement of the overall network’s PCI. In most instances, it is more cost-effective to allocate resources towards maintaining well-conditioned pavements through preservation techniques, while reserving reconstruction efforts for pavements in poor condition.

Benefits of an Effective Pavement Management Strategy:

  • Control or reduction of street maintenance costs
  • Prolonged pavement life, safeguarding the initial investment
  • Strategic approach to necessary repairs
  • Improved comprehension of underlying issues
  • Recommendations grounded in quantitative data
  • Utilization of an engineering methodology for efficient allocation of funds
  • Priority on pavement preservation—allowing less attention to be given to deteriorated roads
  • Recognition of pavements as valuable assets and their subsequent protection

Our Pavement Management Services

Pavement History Collection

Gathering information and tracing the history of pavement conditions directly influence the range of potential solutions available. Whether you opt for a straightforward spreadsheet or utilize specialized software like PAVER™, dTIMS®, or other data management tools, the initial and pivotal step in developing a pavement management system is collecting relevant data. Essential details encompass the pavement’s age, composition, cross-sectional structure, current traffic load, any past maintenance or rehabilitation activities, and the kind of preservation methods employed—either executed by agency personnel or through separate contracts. These preservation techniques encompass activities like partial and full-depth patch repairs, crack and joint sealing, overlays, and pavement grinding for load transfer restoration.

Furthermore, it is imperative to engage in conversations with both public works officials and private utility operators to unearth the history of utility maintenance within the area. These discussions can also shed light on potential future utility enhancements that might impact the corresponding roadway segments.

Assess Pavement Conditions

Pavements undergo assessment using a standardized rating system that considers the degree of distress they exhibit. The information gathered in this process serves as the basis for computing the Pavement Condition Index (PCI). It is worth noting that there are diverse approaches to calculating the PCI. For instance, the ASTM D6433-11 (Standard Practice for Roads and Parking Lots Pavement Condition Index Surveys) method calculates the PCI based on specific types of distress and their corresponding severity levels. However, various agencies may choose to compute their own PCI using different criteria for distress types and their respective severity levels.

In addition, a visual examination, referred to as project-level evaluation, is indispensable for each pavement to ensure a precise assessment. Developing a pavement condition map of the entire street network offers a graphical representation of areas that require the most significant enhancements.

Develop a Financial Program for Improvements

Enhancing pavement management involves the formulation of personalized prioritization strategies. Dedicated pavement management software evaluates the condition of pavements and designates preservation approaches following established priorities and existing conditions.

When a pavement’s Pavement Condition Index (PCI) is low, the software will recommend interim measures to ensure road safety and schedule the pavement for reconstruction. On the other hand, if the PCI falls within the fair to good range, the software will suggest cost-effective rehabilitation methods aimed at achieving excellent conditions.

Furthermore, pavement management software can anticipate the future conditions of the pavement network through the application of diverse budget strategies. This enables you to assess outcomes based on how and when budget allocations are made. Consequently, you can prioritize either rehabilitation or reconstruction approaches and create a comprehensive capital improvement program designed to optimize cost savings.

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Our pavement management clients include:

  • City of Ankeny, IA
  • City of Atlantic, IA
  • City of Auburn, IA
  • City of Avoca, IA
  • City of Bedford, IA
  • City of Belton, MO
  • City of Clear Lake, IA
  • City of Clive, IA
  • City of Elk Horn, IA
  • City of Indianola, IA
  • City of Knoxville, IA
  • City of Lenox, IA
  • City of Mount Ayr, IA
  • City of Slater, IA
  • City of Reinbeck, IA
  • City of Underwood, IA
  • City of Wall Lake, IA
  • Iowa State University
  • State of Iowa Capitol Complex