OUR COMPANY EMPLOYMENT FAQ CONTACT Pavement Preservation Asphalt Products Specifications & SDS Managing Pavements The Importance of Timely Maintenance Asphalt pavements deteriorate in two ways. All pavements age from the effects of Mother Nature. Infrared rays from the sun cause the semi-solid asphalt particles to harden and become brittle. Cold temperatures cause the asphalt mat to contract creating thermal cracks. Over time, cyclic temperature changes lead to block cracking. Moisture induced damage will also cause the pavement to deteriorate over time. Pavement Deterioration Pavements can also deteriorate through loading. This is usually a concern on high volume arterial routes and highways that accommodate heavy vehicles (with 18,000 pound axle loads). Lighter vehicles (cars, pickups and SUVs) have an insignificant role in the load induced deterioration of the pavement. As an asphalt street ages it remains in good condition for about 70% of its life. After that the pavement deteriorates at a rapid rate. Many pavement managers time their maintenance treatments to coincide with the “Treatment Triggers” shown on the following curve. By applying a low cost surface treatment on a street when it is still in fairly good condition an agency can realize significant savings in lieu of waiting for the pavement to deteriorate to the point when it needs to be paved or reconstructed. The chart shows that for every dollar spent on preventative maintenance it will cost four to five times that amount to pave or reconstruct the same road segment. A proportional maintenance approach allows you more flexibility in programming and is more cost effective. By investing some funds on streets in fair condition you prevent further deterioration and more costly repairs. By overlaying some roads and surface treating others you can significantly reduce the number of roads in your network that are in poor condition. If you would like to evaluate various pavement maintenance scenarios, please call us at 314-219-7305 or use our contact page. Home Our Company Management Texas Division History News FAQ Missouri Employment Texas Employment Privacy Policy Contact Road Solutions Chip Seal Micro-Surfacing Slurry Seal Asphalt Underseal Managing Pavements Parking Lots Asphalt Sealer Specifications & SDS Products Emulsions Cutbacks & Asphalt Cements Crack & Joint Sealants High Performance Cold Patch Paving Interlayers Geotextile & Geogrids 1620 Woodson Rd. St. Louis, MO 63114 (314) 219-7305 © Missouri Petroleum 2021 | Web Design by MayeCreate Design The information provided on this web site is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied.