How to Evaluate Whether or Not to Pave a Gravel Road (When to Pave a Gravel Road)

1. How to EvaluateWhether or Notto Pave a Gravel Road(When to Pave a Gravel Road) Rodger Young, P.E. Director of Technical Services Presented at 30th Annual Asphalt Conference And Equipment Show

2. What is meant by a “paved” road • Light chip seal ? • Double chip seal ? • 2-in. HMA mat ? • 4-in. HMA mat ? • Generally HMA mats < 2-in. have little real load-bearing capacity of their own.

3. What is meant by a paved road ? • Asphalt Institute refers to a paved road as one that has a HMA mat of ≥ 4-in. of full depth asphalt or 3-in. + suitable granular base. • System that has load bearing capacity. • Surface-treated road • A roadway with < 2-in. HMA mat. • Protects the base material by shedding water and providing a smooth riding surface.

4. Decision to paved • Paving helps to seal the surface from moisture and protects the base and subgrade material, • Eliminates dust problems • Smoothness - Has higher user acceptance • Accommodate many types of vehicles that do not operate as effectively on unsurfaced roads. • Matter of trade-offs • Maintenance - Properly maintained, a gravel road can serve general traffic adequately for many years

5. Considerations for paving gravel roads • Local agencies considering paving roadways • reducing roadway maintenance cost, • providing a smooth riding surface • eliminating environmental (dust) problems. • Local agencies should have a policy and criteria for paving gravel roads.

6. An approach for determining whether or not a roadway should be paved. Roadway management program. Goal of the management program is to improve all roads by using good management practices Common sense system, step-by-step approach to scheduling and budgeting for maintenance work Establishes short-term and long-term maintenance goals, prioritizes projects within budget constraints

7. An approach for determining whether or not a roadway should be paved. • Roadway management program. • Roadway inventory • Roadway condition survey • Determine appropriate treatments • Establishes costs • Sets priorities

8. An approach for determining whether or not a roadway should be paved. • Commitment to effective management • Matter of making sure taxpayer’s money is well spent • Planning for 5 or even 10 years instead of putting a band-aid on today’s problem • Using good management techniques instead of “seat of the pants” methods • Taking time todo things right the first timeand constructing projects to last

9. An approach for determining whether or not a roadway should be paved. • Traffic conditions and usage – life and maintenance requirements of a roadway is affected by the number of vehicles and their weight • Establishing traffic volumes and type of traffic for when to pave • Establishing functional importance of the roadway • Establishing design and construction standards • Establishing maintenance standards • Roadway safety

10. An approach for determining if a roadway should be paved con’t. • Economic evaluation • Determining when it is more economical to pave than leave the roadway a gravel surface • Life cycle cost of the options

22. An approach for determining if a roadway should be paved con’t. • Public opinion

23. Questions ??????