Pavement Preservation

Cenotaph

On this page

  1. Overview and benefits
  2. Types of pavement preservation
  3. Frequently Asked QuestionsFreshly paved section of George Street in downtown Peterborough

Maintaining smooth and safe roads is essential for the well-being and efficient transportation of the community. The Pavement Preservation program is the City’s proactive approach to ensure that the City’s roads remain in favourable condition for all residents, businesses and visitors. The following information explains what pavement preservation is, why it's important for the City, and the various methods utilized to maintain roads throughout the City of Peterborough.

Pavement preservation refers to a set of proactive maintenance techniques aimed at extending the life of existing roads that are in average to good condition, minimizing the need for costly repairs, minimize accelerated deterioration and preserve infrastructure assets. Pavement preservation techniques for roadways of less than average conditions are not a cost effective and efficient use of resources. It encompasses a variety of methods, including crack sealing, micro surfacing and slurry seals, overlays, cold-in-place recycling, pulverizing, and mill and pave (resurfacing) operations.

The primary goal of these techniques is to maintain the structural integrity and functionality of the pavement structure while delaying the onset of deterioration.

Importance of a Pavement Preservation Plan for Municipalities

Cost Efficiency

  • Reduced Maintenance Costs: Regular preservation activities can significantly lower long-term costs. By addressing minor issues early, municipalities can extend the requirement for expensive repairs or complete reconstructions, which can be financially burdensome.
  • Budget Planning: A well-structured preservation plan allows for better financial forecasting, helping municipalities allocate funds more effectively.

Extended Pavement Lifespan

  • Longevity: Preservation techniques can extend the lifespan of pavement by several years, meaning the City can maintain the roads in good condition without the need for frequent replacements.
  • Improved Performance: By keeping the pavement in optimal condition, preservation methods enhance ride quality and safety for users.

Enhanced SafetyA cyclist crossed a newly paved and painted intersection in downtown Peterborough

  • Reduced Hazards: By addressing surface distresses like cracks and potholes, preservation helps maintain a safe driving environment, reducing liabilities and managing risks.
  • Better Drainage: Techniques like micro surfacing and slurry sealing improve surface drainage, preventing water accumulation that can lead to further damage.

 Sustainability

  • Resource Efficiency: Many preservation methods utilize existing materials, which reduces waste, and the environmental impact associated with new material production.
  • Lower Carbon Footprint: By extending the life of existing roads, municipalities can minimize the carbon emissions associated with road construction and demolition.

Strategic Planning

  • Data-Driven Decisions: Implementing a preservation plan allows the City to assess the current condition of the road network, prioritize projects, and make informed decisions based on data and performance metrics.
  • Long-Term Vision: A preservation plan aligns with broader transportation and infrastructure goals, ensuring that road maintenance is an integral part of municipal planning.

Public Impacts

  • Pavement Preservation: This approach results in minimal public disruption due to its focus on the top 50mm of the roadway. Short-term and low-impact interventions are characteristic of this method.
  • Larger Repair and Full Reconstruction: Addressing the entire roadway, this approach leads to significant and long duration public impacts, including closures, road closures, and major disruptions.

In summary, a pavement preservation plan is essential for effectively managing road infrastructure. By focusing on proactive maintenance, the City saves money, extends road life, and enhances safety. This plan not only addresses current needs but also positions the City for sustainable growth and development in the future. The City is committed to providing safe, reliable, and sustainable roadways for all. The City appreciates the support and understanding of the pavement preservation efforts for the betterment of the community.

Types of Pavement Preservation

Crack sealing

What It Is: Filling cracks in the pavement with a sealant to prevent water from entering and causing damage.

How It Helps: Stops water from entering and causing larger issues with the road base, extending pavement life.

Financial Aspect and Cost-Effective Maintenance: Crack sealing is relatively inexpensive compared to full repairs or reconstruction. By addressing minor issues early, it can save significant costs down the line, potentially reducing the need for more extensive repairs.
Micro-slurry/seal
What It Is: Applying a thin layer of asphalt mixed with fine aggregate and water to the pavement surface.

How It Helps: Provides a protective layer, sealing small cracks, improving surface texture, skid resistance and reshaping the surface for enhanced drive ability.

Financial Aspect: Affordable Renewal: Micro and slurry seals are less costly than complete resurfacing. They can prolong the life of the pavement for several years, delaying larger expenditures associated with more extensive repairs.
Overlay
What It Is: Adding a new layer of asphalt over existing pavement.

Limitations: This cannot be performed on most roadways throughout the City as it can typically only be utilized on roadways without curb and gutters.

How It Helps: Improves surface condition and ride quality without full reconstruction.

Financial Aspect: Cost-Effective Upgrade: While overlays are more expensive than crack sealing or sealing treatments, they are still much cheaper than a full pavement replacement. An overlay can extend the life of the road by 10 to 15 years, providing good value for investment.

Cold-in-Place Recycled Expanded Asphalt (CIREAM)
What It Is: Recycling existing road surface on-site by grinding it up, mixing it with new binding agents, and laying it back down as a new road layer.

Limitations: This cannot be performed on most roadways throughout the City as it can typically only be utilized on roadways without curb and gutters and where limited structures are present within the roadway.

How It Helps: Reuses existing materials while enhancing pavement durability.

Financial Aspect: Budget-Friendly Recycling: CIREAM can significantly reduce costs associated with material procurement and disposal. It minimizes new asphalt needs and can be a cost-effective solution, especially for large projects.
Pulverizing
What It Is: Grinding of the existing pavement structure and some of the underlying material to create a new, stronger base for the road. A new pavement structure is subsequently placed on the revitalized base.

Limitations: This cannot be performed on most roadways throughout the City as it can only typically only be utilized on roadways without curb and gutters.

How It Helps: Strengthens the road’s foundation while reusing materials.

Financial Aspect: Resource Savings: Pulverizing reduces the need for new materials and can lower costs related to transport and disposal of old pavement, therefore reducing environmental impacts. This operation can also reduce the overall project costs for pavement rehabilitation.
Mill and Pave (Resurfacing)
What It Is: Removing the surface layer of asphalt (top 50mm) and replacing it with new asphalt.

How It Helps: Fixes surface distresses, improves ride quality and extends a roadway’s lifespan significantly.

Financial Aspect: Long-Term Investment: Although more expensive than other methods, resurfacing provides a long-lasting durable solution, extending road life significantly. It prevents future costly repairs by addressing issues before they worsen.

In summary, while each method has its own costs, the key financial benefit across all operations is their ability to extend pavement life and delay the need for more expensive repairs or replacements. Investing in these preservation techniques often results in significant savings over time. By incorporating these updates, we aim to provide a clear and informative guide on pavement preservation, its benefits, and how it affects our community. Thank you for your support in maintaining and improving our City's roadways.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How will pavement preservation activities affect daily commutes?
The City strives to minimize disruptions by scheduling work during off-peak hours or at night where possible, and by providing clear advanced warning information signage while the work is on-going. Some delays may occur, but the goal is to keep traffic flowing smoothly whenever possible.
Why are roads that seem fine being worked on?
Pavement preservation is proactive. Working on roads in average to good condition prevents them from deteriorating too significantly, saving money and avoiding more significant disruptions in the future.
How does pavement preservation save taxpayer money?
By investing in maintenance now, the aim is to avoid the inflated costs of major repairs or full reconstruction later. This approach extends the lifespan of the roads and reduces long-term expenses.
What are the benefits as a resident?
Pavement preservation ensures smoother rides, reduces vehicle wear and tear, enhances safety, and maintains the overall quality of the roadways.
How does the City decide which roads to preserve?
The prioritization of pavement preservation projects using a data-driven approach, incorporating road condition assessments (Pavement Condition Index - PCI), traffic volumes, the strategic importance of each roadway and connectivity to other road improvements to create longer stretches of average to good road surfaces.