Pavement maintenance is the key to pavement preservation.

An effective
pavement preservation program integrates many maintenance strategies
and treatments. There are three types of pavement Maintenance
Preventive Maintenance: Planned strategy of cost-effective treatments to
an existing roadway system and its appurtenances that preserves the
system, retards future deterioration, and maintains or improves the
functional condition of the system (without increasing the structural
capacity). Surface treatments that are less than two inches in thickness are
not considered as adding structural capacity. Preventive maintenance
treatments include:
dowel bar retrofitting, crack sealing, armor
coating/chip sealing, fog sealing, broom or
scrub seals, rut filling (in some cases), and
thin overlays
Corrective Maintenance: Performed after a deficiency occurs in the
pavement, such as moderate to severe rutting, raveling or extensive
cracking. This may also be referred to as reactive maintenance. Corrective
maintenance treatments include:
structural overlays (3 inches or greater),
milling, patching and crack repair.
Emergency Maintenance: Performed during an emergency situation, such
as
a blowup or severe pothole that needs repair immediately. This could also
include temporary treatments that hold the surface together until a more
permanent treatment can be performed. Emergency maintenance is often
related tosafety and time, with cost not being a primary consideration.
Likewise, materials that maynot be acceptable for preventive or corrective
maintenance may be the best choice for emergency situations.

Preventive Maintenance
Crack Filling and Sealing ProceduresAsphalt Pavements
Crack filling and sealing is probably the most important and cost effective
preventive maintenance strategy. Because of this importance, detailed
information is provided for your use. Procedures used by Districts 7 and 8 are
listed below, as are some of the guidelines supplied by Materials and
Research Division. Suggested personnel and equipment needs are also
included.

Joint Resealing-Concrete Pavements

Joint sealants serve two primary purposes; prevention of incompressible
materials and
water from entering the joint. To be effective, the sealant must resist the
embedment of incompressible material. It must also maintain adhesion to
the concrete sidewalls. Since joints in concrete pavement are sealed as part
of new construction, the issue
becomes When is resealing appropriate? Excessive delay in resealing can
result in a more rapid deterioration of the pavement. Spending money to
replace the sealant too early is not cost-effective either.