Pavement design & management
Access the Washington State Pavement Management System (WSPMS), and learn how we provide structural pavement analysis and design, and conduct pavement research.
We manage 18,500 lane miles of state highway pavements.
What we do
- Manage and maintain the Washington State Pavement Management System (WSPMS)
- Provide structural analysis and design
- Conduct pavement research to keep current with pavement issues
These functions are vital to ensure smooth, safe and economical pavements across Washington's highway system:
Studded-Tire-Damage-To-Asphalt (PDF 23KB)
Pavement Design ensures that highway pavements are properly designed by providing the oversight, expertise and design tools required for pavement design. All Pavement Design Requirements are included in the WSDOT Pavement Policy (PDF 1.87MB).
Pavement design oversight
Most pavement designs produced by WSDOT originate in one of the six Regions. HQ Pavement Design ensures that the Region's pavement designs comply with WSDOT's Pavement Policy (PDF 1.87MB), are cost effective and constructible.
Specialized designs
HQ Pavement Design supports the Regions by preparing specialized or complex pavement designs.
Pavement type selection
HQ Pavement Design provides technical assistance and oversight of the pavement type selection process (asphalt versus concrete) and other pavement investment decisions.
Falling Weight Deflectometer
The Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) is a non-destructive testing device used to complete structural testing for pavement rehabilitation projects, research, and pavement structure failure detection. HQ Pavement Design provides FWD testing services throughout the state.
Superload analysis
HQ Pavement Design provides assistance to WSDOT's Commercial Vehicle Services Office (CVS) by analyzing the impact of superloads over 300,000 pounds to highway pavement structures.
166,800 electric vehicle
registrations in Washington in 2023, up from 114,600 in 2022.
87 wetland compensation sites
actively monitored on 918 acres in 2023.
25,000 safe animal crossings
in the Snoqualmie Pass East Project area since 2014.