Why are they working on that road?
It’s a question KDOT officials often hear that can be
answered in one word: preservation.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, pavement
preservation represents a proactive approach to maintaining our existing
highways. It enables a transportation agency to reduce costly, time consuming
rehabilitation and reconstruction projects and associated traffic disruptions. Timely
preservation provides the traveling public with improved safety and mobility,
reduced congestion and smoother, longer lasting pavements.
Preservation isn’t a new concept. Consider how we
incorporate preservation in our daily lives. We change the oil in our car to
maintain engine life. We change furnace and air conditioner filters to keep our
units running smoothly. The same goes for our roads. Applying the right
treatment on the right road at the right time will extend the service life of
the pavement or, in short, help keep good roads good.
Examples of preservation treatments include chip seals,
milling and overlays, surface recycling and patching. The average cost of these treatments is
significantly less than complete reconstruction or modernization projects. The
National Center for Pavement Preservation estimates that every dollar spent on
preservation saves $6 to $10 that would have to be spent on future
rehabilitation or reconstruction.
Pavement preservation programs are a proactive approach to
maintaining our roads using low cost, preventative maintenance treatments. By
keeping our good roads good, we can ensure that we are getting the most out of
our pavement investment.
