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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

Enhancement of MDOT SHA Pavement Preservation Program

The Pavement and Geotechnical Division is faced with the challenge of maximizing funding and enhancing the Preventive Maintenance Program. This research would provide a resource to help Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) enhance the current program. It is intended to promote the implementation of several pavement preservation treatments in Maryland, provide for the development of strategies, documents and training to successfully expand and implement pavement preservation and new pavement technologies throughout all levels of MDOT SHA. The following preservation treatments have been identified for the purposes of this study: crack fill & crack zeal (for both asphalt and concrete surfaces), joint zealing (and resealing), saw and seal, fog seal, rejuvenators, cape seal, chip seal, sand seal, thin overlays (ultra thin bonded wearing course, high performance thin overlays, etc.), unbonded and bonded PCC overlay, cross-stitching, undersealing/slab stabilization, surface abrasion, cold In-place asphalt recycling (CIR), rubblization and asphalt overlay, full-depth reclamation (FDR), high friction surface treatment. Most of these treatments are relatively new and are either in the pilot phase or have been utilized. This research will focus on the following: (1) perform a comprehensive literature review of best practices and lessons learned from other transportation agencies; (2) research the availability of contractors for each treatment; (3) review the successful contract advertisement procedures for each treatment by reaching out to peers at other transportation agencies; (4) identify the lane-mile-year benefit of each treatment (both as-designed and as-built) at other transportation agencies; (5) review the criteria for placement of each treatment (ambient temperatures, pre-treatment operations, specification requirements, lane-mile-year benefit, advantages and disadvantages etc.); (6) identify challenges faced by transportation agencies to implement new treatments (i.e. push back/opposition from industry); (7) compile specifications using information from the FHWA resource library and other transportation agencies and evaluate the readiness of the specification for use by MDOT SHA; (8) evaluate the level of utilization of each treatment at MDOT SHA relative to its use at other transportation agencies and determine if the treatment should be considered further; and (9) develop a shortlist of treatments that can be pursued by MDOT SHA, based on the findings from Steps 1-8 above.