Preservation Efforts Mean Longer-Lasting Roads.

Staff

The North Carolina Department of Transportation's preservation efforts have paved the way for longer-lasting roads and major cost savings.

Courtesy of the North Carolina Department of Transportation

With the onset of warmer weather, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has started its pavement preservation work for this year on highways across the state. Crews are using highly cost-effective methods to repair slightly cracked or weathered pavements, which will extend the life of the roads, reduce future maintenance needs, and increase motorist comfort and mobility.

"Pavement preservation is like changing the oil in your car," says Emily McGraw, NCDOT Maintenance Operations engineer. "It's important to make minor improvements to good roads regularly because it delays major road repairs that are much more expensive and time-consuming."

The more highways NCDOT can keep in good condition through preservation, the more money it will ultimately save. In 2008, NCDOT spent $277 million to resurface 1,062 road miles with hot mixed asphalt and $107 million to surface treat and crack seal 3,304 road miles in the state.

A highlight of the 2008 program was the placement by state crews of chip seals, a type of surface treatment, on 2,769 road miles at a cost of $65.6 million. In addition, NCDOT spent $6.4 million sealing cracks on 18,887 lane miles. If the department had not addressed those roads and waited until they had deteriorated more severely, the department's calculations show ...