Date:  Thursday, August 06, 2009

Contact: Contact: Melanie Coon, WSDOT Communications, 360-705-7078
Tom Baker, State Materials Engineer, 360-709-5401

OLYMPIA - To the motoring public, smoothness is chief among the factors of what makes a good roadway pavement. To the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), it is smooth pavement that lasts. WSDOT recently received national recognition as a 2008 Perpetual Pavement Award winner by the Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) for a four- mile section of Interstate 5 near Everett’s northern city limits.

The award is given to agencies with asphalt pavements that are at least 35 years old and never had a structural failure. The average time span between resurfacing of each winning pavement must be no less than 13 years and the road must demonstrate the qualities expected from long-life asphalt pavements: excellence in design, quality in construction and value to drivers.

“Even though these pavements have been carrying traffic for over 35 years, motorists are still using the original pavement structure,” said Mike O’Leary, APA Co-Chairman. “The extraordinary performance of these pavements is worthy of attention.”

WSDOT’s pavement preservation goal is to preserve state highways at the lowest cost per year of pavement life.

The WSDOT pavement management system has been recognized as one of the best in the nation. According to our 2007 pavement condition survey, Washington state road conditions continually earn good ratings. More than 93 percent of state-owned roads were rated as fair or better. WSDOT will spend more than $328 million during the 2009-11 biennium on pavement preservation projects.

Regular roadway preservation benefits motorists’ safety by reducing the risk of hydroplaning in wet weather, minimizing rough drive, and increasing resistance to skipping and skidding. The award winning section of pavement in Everett carries more than 60,000 vehicles per day, with 4,400 of those being heavy trucks.

"We design the asphalt pavements to limit the wear and tear near the surface, so we only have to replace the top layer," said Tom Baker, WSDOT State Materials Engineer. "The rest of the pavement structure stays in place and remains strong for a very long time." 

Dozens of paving projects are underway this summer, as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funding. This will reduce the backlog of asphalt and chip-seal needs, and extend the useful life of concrete pavements by rehabilitating with retrofit dowel bars.

The APA also honored the states of Arkansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi and Tennessee. Presentations will be made in October during a special ceremony at the International Conference on Perpetual Pavements in Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2009. 

WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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