Since 94 percent of U.S. paved roads are asphalt, extending the life of asphalt roadways can save money and time for the local government agencies who are responsible for 70 percent of them. Crack Treatment in Asphalt Pavements. SHRP's research results helped answer questions roadway maintenance agencies face when deciding whether to seal cracks and how to go about sealing them. Pavement cracking can create problems and should be repaired. Cracks allow water to get into the roadway base and subgrade, resulting in pavement breakup and potholes.
Most cracks are good candidates for filling or sealing.
Cracks with widths between 0.2 to 0.75 inches should be sealed. Likewise, cracks showing greater than or equal to 0.1 inch movement should be sealed. Pavements that have failed because of extensive alligator or block cracking may not be candidates for crack sealing methods. In such cases, other methods of repair, such as surface seals or partial depth patching may be more appropriate. Rubberized asphalts are flexible enough to adjust as cracks open and close.