Pavement
Highlights
2021
- WSDOT pavement lane miles in fair or better condition worsened from 93.0% in 2020 to 92.0% in 2021 (chip seal roadways were included in 2021)
- WSDOT's pavement Deferred Preservation Liability increased 9.6% from $478 million in 2020 to $524 million in 2021
- WSDOT estimates it will need up to $112 million annually over the next 24 years for concrete preservation
2020
- WSDOT pavement lane miles in fair or better condition increased slightly from 92.9% in 2019 to 93.0% in 2020, not including chip seal roadways
- COVID-19 restrictions limited WSDOT's data collection for pavement condition to 20%. In a typical year, the agency collects 100% of this data
- WSDOT is not preserving enough pavement to replenish what was used in 2020, repair needs continue to grow
COVID-19 limits WSDOT pavement data collection
WSDOT usually collects pavement condition data for 100% of the state-owned route system. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, WSDOT could only obtain 2020 data for approximately 20% of the lane-miles. The agency's pavement data collection vehicle requires a driver and an operator to safely collect the data, but for a time WSDOT personnel were not allowed in the van within six feet of each other due to COVID-19 safety measures. Most of the data collection was for Washington's interstates—which accounts for approximately 40% of the annual vehicle-miles traveled. Chip seal projects were also not included in 2020 pavement data due to COVID-19 restrictions.
2019
- WSDOT expects to stop preserving pavement on ramps, roads with speed limits below 45 mph, and projected funding levels
- WSDOT pavement lane miles in fair or better condition improved from 91.4% in 2018 to 93.2% in 2019 due to the completion of several the inclusion of chip seal pavement condition data
- Washington is expected to meet NHS pavement condition in 2022, but miss them by 2028
2018
- WSDOT pavement lane miles in fair or better condition declined for the fourth year in a row, going from 91.8% in 2017 to 91.4% in 2018
- Washington is expected to meet federally mandated MAP-21 targets for NHS pavement condition in 2022, but miss them by 2028
- WSDOT estimates it will need up to $88 million annually over the next 30 years for concrete preservation
- WSDOT plans to stop its chip seal conversion program in 2021 due to funding constraints
2017
- WSDOT pavement lane miles in fair or better condition declined, going from 92.2% in 2016 to 91.8% in 2017
- Estimated cumulative savings (since 2010) from resurfacing asphalt pavement with chip seal passed $120 million in 2017
- WSDOT's pavement Deferred Preservation Liability increased from $330 million in 2016 to $346 million in 2017
- The average remaining service life of WSDOT pavement decreased from 48.6% in 2016 to 47.4% in 2017
Pavement background
WSDOT ensures interstate pavement preservation takes priority over other roadways due to the Federal Highway Administration Transportation Performance Management requirements. The emphasis on these more-traveled strategic freight corridors (also known as T-1 and T-2 corridors) can have larger affects on increases and decreases in the percentage of VMT-weighted pavement in fair or better condition.
During the last 15 years, WSDOT's approach to pavement preservation has focused on extending how long its pavement assets remain in fair or better condition. However, due to preservation continuing to be underfunded, this strategy is no longer sustainable. Preservation and maintenance of Washington's transportation system—including WSDOT-owned pavement—has been underfunded for decades.
Strategic freight corridor classifications
WSDOT classifies highway segments, or corridors, by how much freight travels on them. T-1 freight corridors are the most heavily traveled and see over 10 million tons of truck freight per year. Corridors that see between four million and 10 million tons of truck freight annually are T-2 corridors and corridors that see between 300,000, and four million tons of truck freight annually are T-3 corridors. Both T-1 and T-2 corridors are considered strategic freight corridors under the definition established in RCW 47.06A.020.