A study with the objectives of providing guidelines for timing of contraction joint sawcutting to avert uncontrolled pavement cracking and providing guidelines for early loading of pavements by construction traffic has been conducted. A laboratory study of early age (4 to 24 hours) and early pavement loading (1 to 28 days) concrete strength properties for a range of highway concrete mixes was made. Sawcutting tests were made to determine earliest contraction joint sawcutting. Earliest sawcut timing was correlated on the basis of sawcut ratings to concrete strength properties and nondestructive test results that can be used for determining earliest sawcutting time. Concrete pavement placement and joint sawcutting were observed at three highway construction sites to verify test results. Latest sawcutting time was targeted on the basis of buildup of restraint stresses attributable to slab cooling. Guidelines for sawcut timing are presented to facilitate construction site decision making based on nondestructive test methods. Early loading by construction traffic was analyzed using ILLI-SLAB finite element models. Load tests were made at two pavement sites to verify that analytical model results are applicable to new pavements. Guidelines are presented to facilitate construction site decision making for early trafficking of new pavements based on nondestructive test methods.