Latest Articles

Why Subgrade Strength Matters The subgrade is the ultimate load-bearing layer of every pavement system. If it lacks adequate stiffness or uniformity, vertical wheel loads are amplified downward, causing plastic deformation that migrates back to the surface as ruts. FHWA research shows that rutting i…

Why Build a Plan Around PCI? The Pavement Condition Index (PCI) converts field observations of surface distress into a single 0-100 score. Using a standardized metric lets agencies: Objectively compare pavement segments across the entire network. Quantify long-term needs and justify funding. Trigger…

Keeping Pavement Joints Tight and Surfaces Sound Why Joint Resealing and Spall Repair Matter Concrete pavements depend on tight, watertight joints and sound slab edges to deliver long service life. When sealants fail or joint faces spall, water and incompressibles infiltrate the slab support system,…

Regulatory Pathways and Best Practices Why Wetlands and Sensitive Habitat Matter Wetlands slow floodwaters, filter pollutants, recharge aquifers, and anchor food webs. Fragmenting or burying them for a wider roadway can raise project costs, introduce permitting delays, and expose the agency (or its …

Why Air-Quality Matters in Asphalt Production Modern asphalt plants are far cleaner than their predecessors, but they still generate particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur oxides (SOₓ), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), carbon monoxide (CO), and nuisance odors. Controlling these pol…

Why End-of-Life Strategy Matters When an asphalt or concrete pavement reaches the end of its service life, owners face a pivotal choice: remove and replace the structure in its entirety or harvest maximum value from the existing layers. The latter approach, designing an end-of-life (EOL) strategy, c…