PAVING MANAGEMENT

The Street Division is responsible for the maintenance of 439 miles of roadways. Structural distress, such as cracking on our street system, is the result of weathering and increased traffic loads beyond the initial pavement design. Pavement cracking is caused by excessive pavement deflection under traffic loads, and occurs predominately during the winter months when the street section is cold and less flexible. These cracks permit moisture to enter into the underlying base and sub-grade materials which further weaken the pavement section. The resulting spongy foundation coupled with increased traffic loads accelerate pavement cracking, other deterioration and the development of potholes begin.

Maintenance procedures for correcting pavement distress include patching, crack filling, surface sealing and resurfacing with an asphalt overlay. To protect the City's investment in the street system, to reduce deterioration, and to extend the pavement life as much as possible with limited work force and dollars available, staff has selected crack filling as an economical procedure to follow. This procedure prevents surface water seepage from reaching the underlying street section and helps extend the pavement life.