Pavement Management
Pavement Management Pavement Plans
Under Construction
Completed
Pavement Management
Pavement Management System (PMS) refers to a multi-faceted computerized system that collects, sorts, analyzes and stores data thereby enabling road personnel to determine when and where road resurfacing should occur. Making evaluations and creating management strategies based on objective, verifiable data generated by such systems saves money, time and improves the quality and safety of public roadways. Charleston County utilizes AgileAssets™ Pavement Analyst software to store, sort, analyze, predict the condition and develop plan to maintain roads in Charleston County.
The condition of a road is based on the data collected by an automated collection vehicle. These automated collection vehicles are able to measure several different pavement distresses including roughness, rutting, crack density, crack length, potholes, and more! The data is used to determine the Pavement Condition Index utilizing the new ASTM E3303 Standard. The County utilizes Hawkeye Insight to view the raw data collected and can even see every crack along the roadway.
Watch: Data Collection Process
Unique Roads
These accomplishments are significant, given the increasing demand that the public puts on the paved infrastructure. Charleston County has been one of the fastest growing counties in the state, and that growth pressure is acutely felt on its roadways. Perhaps one of the most unique aspects of Charleston County's pavement maintenance program is its application on roads owned by several different jurisdictions. The County’s PMS process evaluates roads owned by the County, all municipalities within the County, and even state-owned secondary roads, and includes them in improvement contracts based on their conditions. In total, the County maintains a Pavement Management System of approximately 1,811 centerline miles of roadway or 4,182 total network lane miles.
Transitioning From a Reactive to a Proactive Approach
As with many other state and local governments, Charleston County once embraced the practice of paving the worst roads first. In the early 1990’s Charleston County address addressed maintenance using what was basically a “squeaky wheel” strategy for road improvements. Roads would be identified for repair and resurfacing only after people called to complain about them.
Research has shown that for every dollar spent on preservation, we save six to ten dollars that would have to be spent on rehabilitation or reconstruction down the road.
Charleston County has begun to separate the funding into three categories: Preservation, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction. By prioritizing the roads and distributing the funds within the three categories the County will be able to improve more miles of roadway for the same amount of money.
Funding Sources
Charleston County utilizes two funding sources for pavement management. The first is “C Funds” – dollars generated by the state’s 16.8 cents/gallon gasoline tax and allocated specifically for road resurfacing projects. The South Carolina Department of Transportation obligates “C” funds to the Charleston County Transportation Committee (CTC) each year and historically the CTC allocates around $6 million per year for resurfacing. The second funding source is the County’s Transportation Sales Tax Program where $4 million per year is allocated for resurfacing contracts.
Preservation
The Federal Highway Administration defines pavement preservation as a program employing a network level, long-term strategy that enhances pavement performance by using an integrated, cost-effective set of practices that extend pavement life, improve safety and meet motorist expectations.
Several preservation techniques are being considered and tested as pilot programs. Techniques such as crack sealing and thin asphaltic layers are the "caulk and paint" for roads. Examples include:
Preservation Project Videos
Rehabilitation
Pavement Rehabilitation is the placement of structural enhancements that extend the service life of an existing pavement and restore or improve its load-carrying capability. Rehabilitation techniques include restoration treatments and structural overlays. These are cost effective for failing roads that have deteriorated past the point that preservation techniques would be effective.
Before Rehabilitation
After Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation Techniques In Action
Reconstruction
Reconstruction is the removal and replacement of the entire pavement structure. The treatment is appropriate when the pavement has structurally failed and can longer support the traffic load. Reconstruction may utilize new materials or recycle the existing pavement structure to increase the structural capacity.
Before Reconstruction
After Reconstruction