The story of the American roadway is closely tied to settlement, commerce, and national growth. Long before asphalt and concrete shaped the landscape, early paths followed the natural contours of the land. Over centuries, these informal routes evolved into engineered transportation corridors designe…continue
Across the country, many public works superintendents still choose their annual paving lists using a method that’s as informal as it is risky: they simply “know” which roads look bad and need work. While decades of experience have value, this approach, often referred to as paving b…continue
Modern highway departments juggle far more than just asphalt: winter maintenance, drainage repairs, sign management, and the never-ending call log. Deciding whether to outsource paving can either sharpen your operational focus or strain an already tight budget. Below is a balanced look at the upside…continue
A practical guide to defensible record-keeping for highway departments When a state auditor, insurance adjuster, or opposing attorney asks for documentation, there is only one safe answer: “Certainly, here it is.” Anything less invites financial penalties, lost grant funding, or courtroo…continue
How highway departments objectively measure roadway health, and turn numbers into smarter maintenance decisions What the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) actually is The Pavement Condition Index is a numerical score (0–100) that expresses the structural and functional health of an asphalt or con…continue
Why every highway department should treat potholes, faded striping, and clogged drains as potential lawsuit magnets 1 | The public-safety duty In every U.S. state, the agency that owns or controls a roadway has a non-delegable duty to keep it “reasonably safe for travel.” Courts have sai…continue
Overlaying an existing road with a fresh layer of asphalt is a common and cost-effective maintenance technique. However, there comes a point when adding yet another layer without milling (grinding) the surface first can lead to more harm than good. Milling is the process of removing a portion, or al…continue
When a road surface starts showing its age, highway departments are faced with a key decision: apply a new overlay of asphalt or dig deeper, literally, with a more comprehensive solution like Full Depth Recycling (FDR) - also known as full depth reclamation. While a simple overlay can buy some time,…continue
When it comes to assessing road conditions, municipalities often turn to two main approaches: Pavement Condition Index (PCI) and Surface Condition Ratings. Both offer useful insights, but they serve different purposes and vary in complexity, time, and cost. Here's a breakdown to help you choose …continue
When it comes to managing your town’s roads, signs, drainage systems, and other infrastructure, you know what matters: keeping things in good condition, knowing what needs attention, and staying organized. That’s where asset management software comes in. But for many highway departments,…continue
Sometimes a simple pothole patch just won’t cut it. Maybe the road is starting to look more like a patchwork quilt than a smooth surface. Maybe those same holes keep coming back, no matter how many times you’ve filled them. When that happens, it might be time to step up the game with gri…continue
If you’ve ever driven down a bumpy road and thought, “Wow, someone really needs to fix this,” you’ve had a firsthand experience with pavement condition, though maybe not in technical terms. That’s where the Pavement Condition Index, or PCI, comes into play. It’s t…continue
As highway departments look for cost-effective and sustainable ways to rehabilitate deteriorating pavement, Cold In-Place Recycling (CIR) has gained traction as a viable alternative to traditional repaving. This method involves milling the top few inches of an existing asphalt roadway, mixing it wit…continue
As the costs of raw materials and environmental concerns rise, many municipalities and highway departments are turning to recycled materials as a potential solution for road repair and construction. But are these materials truly a viable alternative to traditional methods? What Are Recycled Road Mat…continue
When it comes to road maintenance, full-depth repaving is often seen as the gold standard, but it comes with a gold-plated price tag. Fortunately, municipalities have a toolbox of cost-effective, durable surface treatments that can prolong pavement life, improve safety, and preserve driving comfort …continue