Deteriorating pavements cause motorists and highway agencies endless headaches. Motorists have to deal with tires and suspensions damaged by potholes and with traffic delays caused by maintenance work. Highway agencies must commit scarce resources to maintenance and repair operations, which consume more than one-fourth of the $90 billion spent each year on our highway system.

Adopting more effective repair techniques and preventative maintenance strategies that extend a pavement’s service life can help highway agencies make the most of their maintenance budgets and provide smoother, safer roads for travelers. The Strategic Highway Research Program compared the effectiveness of different pavement repair materials and methods and monitored pavements where preventive maintenance techniques had been applied, to determine which treatments work best, and when. The result was a series of manuals and guidelines on how to select the best material and method for a particular job and how to effectively use these materials and methods in a pavement preservation program.

From 1995-2000, the Lead States Team for pavement preservation promoted the implementation of these manuals and guidelines and helped other States develop their own pavement preservation strategies.

In September 2000, the Pavement Preservation Team transferred its responsibilities to the Subcommittee on Maintenance of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The Team prepared a Transition Plan detailing the results of their work and recommendations for the future.