Pavement Maintenance - Cornell Local Roads Program - Cornell ...

2 - Why Roads Fail Prematurely
Using equipment improperly
Even if you have the right piece of equipment, it is important to use it correctly. A
distributor with misaligned fans will lead to streaking. Using a compressor to blow out
cracks can put water into the cracks. Know what a piece of equipment is for and how to
use it properly.
Failure to follow plans
Do you have plans? Engineering drawings are not required for pavement maintenance,
but writing down the steps and having a plan is a valuable tool. Examples of items in a
good plan include stakeout, detours, materials, construction steps, and plans in case of
poor weather. Without a plan, how do you know whether anything was done incorrectly?
Lack of training
Lynne Irwin likes to say: “How do you know what you don’t know, if you don’t know
that you don't know it?” A crew cannot be expected to do something if they do not know
how. Provide training for everyone. It can be on-the-job, tailgate talks over breaks, hourlong
training at an association meeting, or all-day training from the Cornell Local Roads
Program or a vendor.
Wrong time of year or poor weather
We cannot control the weather, but we can account for it. A surface treatment placed in
October is not likely to work as well as one placed in July. On the other hand, if it rained
during construction in July, it is not likely to do very well either. Know the limitations for
the repair. You may have to do the work anyway, but you will be better prepared to
overcome the problems that may arise.
Examples of failure in construction
• Failure to compact cold patch with the truck tire
• Failure to place the aggregate in a chip seal before the asphalt emulsion breaks
• Using an air compressor without an oil/water separator to clean cracks (can introduce
water and cause a loss of bond)
• Paving over a base that is not properly prepared
• Doing any work with asphalt emulsions after late October (or on any cold day)
Cornell Local Roads Program 9