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

2 - Why Roads Fail Prematurely
Maintenance
The most common maintenance problem is that not enough maintenance is done. This is a
budgetary, planning, and communication issue that is sometimes very difficult to overcome.
Once we decide to perform maintenance we need to remember that ALL maintenance techniques
can be designed to fit the conditions and need to be constructed properly using the correct
materials. Premature failure of pavement maintenance is usually a failure of design, construction,
or material.
Design
The most common design issue is a lack of design. The first step in design is selecting the
correct repair to fix the problem. In too many cases, the choice of repair is made for nontechnical
reasons. In addition, many maintenance repairs are made without any design.
Even a chip seal can be designed to obtain the best result for the municipality. Knowing
what needs to be done to get the right repair is one of the most critical steps in the design
of pavement maintenance.
Construction
Once a technique has been chosen, it needs to be done correctly. The failure to construct
the maintenance repair properly is a major cause of premature failure. A classic example
is the lack of truck tire rolling of cold mix patch in the winter. Instead of lasting several
months, it lasts less than a day.
Material
Using the correct material is critical. It may be less expensive to buy cheaper gravel,
patch, or emulsion, but can you afford the cost of replacement if it fails prematurely?
Cornell Local Roads Program 11