The impact of preventive maintenance programs on the condition of roadway networks

Pavement maintenance and rehabilitation needs studies frequently indicate that current funding levels are not sufficient to maintain the road system at an optimal level of service. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities indicates that Canada is facing a massive infrastructure debt totaling an estimated $ 57 billion. These funding shortfalls are considerable and a significant increase in funding is not likely. A strong pavement preventive maintenance program offers an opportunity to help close the gap between pavement maintenance needs and optimal pavement condition to better serve the traveling public. This paper outlines the concept of a coordinated preventive maintenance and mix-of-fixes approach and how it may be integrated into a framework of pavement and asset management for municipal agencies. The paper provides details on common preventive maintenance techniques that can contribute to the effectiveness of a mix-of-fixes approach. For the covering abstract of this conference see ITRD number E211395.