San Joaquin County Pavement Maintenance Program
Location
Countywide
City or County Responsible for Project
San Joaquin County
Category
Roads: Efficient and Sustainable Road Maintenance, Construction and Reconstruction Projects.
Author
Najee Zarif
San Joaquin County – Public Works
1810 E. Hazelton Avenue, Stockton, CA 95205
209 468-3053
Project Description
San Joaquin County implemented a comprehensive Pavement Maintenance Program (Program) which extends the life of 1,650 miles of public roadways using a variety of cost effective and innovative treatments that improve the overall quality and condition of its road system. The need for a strategic and proactive investment in the County’s roadway system was clear after the San Joaquin County Department of Public Works (SJCPW) noticed a declining trend in the overall Pavement Condition Index (PCI). Members from SJCPW Engineering and Road Maintenance teams collaborated over several months to develop the Program to assess the conditions of roads and identify road segments that were ideal candidates for various treatments. The team then determined how work would be balanced between maintenance crews and contractors, given the available funding. Annually, as part of the Program, the San Joaquin County Department of Public Works (SJCPW) treats more than 230 miles of roadways via an in-house Chip Seal Program (120 miles), contract chip seals (65 miles), slurry seals (40 miles), and crack seals (15 miles). The Program complements pavement resurfacing projects to ensure that roadways within the unincorporated County are effectively treated at least once every seven years. In addition to traditional chip seals, the County proactively implemented geosynthetic reinforced chip seals (GRCS) as an alternative for roadways that would otherwise require an overlay at an additional expense. Roadways that have extensive block and transverse cracking, but exhibit a stable base are evaluated for the GRCS process. Roadway classification and average daily traffic are also considered. During the GRCS process, a paving fabric is placed over the existing roadway just prior to chip sealing. The paving fabric provides a moisture barrier to prevent continued deterioration due to water intrusion and prevents underlying cracking from reflecting through to the surface. This results in a significant 60 percent savings compared to the cost of a traditional overlay. Overall, this innovative and unique treatment has assisted the County in its efforts to cost-effectively maintain its roadways while extending its maintenance dollars. The cost of an overlay in San Joaquin County averages about $450,000 per mile, while the cost of a chip seal averages $32,000 per mile. This includes crack sealing and other prep work. SJCPW’s cost effective Program reduces the frequency of overlays, which results in significant savings over time while reducing the amount of pothole patching required, providing a smoother ride. This Program supports the maximum efficiency of funding, staffing, and administrative oversight. SJCPW anticipates that the negative trend seen in its overall PCI will begin to reverse itself as the Program continues to be refined and more innovative treatments are introduced that lead to improved preservation and positive effects on the road system and environment.
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