National research Center marks new era in Pavement Preservation

Public Roads, March-April, 2004

In late 2003, pavement preservation in the United States entered a new era with the dedication of the new National Center for Pavement Preservation (NCPP) at Michigan State University. A partnership created by the Foundation for Pavement Preservation, FHWA, and the university, NCPP will coordinate collaborative efforts among government, industry, and academia.

Pavement preservation is a planned strategy for treating pavements at the optimum time to maximize their useful life, enhancing longevity while lowering lifetime costs. The key to successful preservation is applying the right treatment to the right pavement at the right time. Treatments must be selected carefully and applied when the pavement is still in good condition (that is, with no structural damage).

According to the center's Web site (www.pavementpreservation.org), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) estimates an annual cost of $92 billion to maintain existing highways over the next 5 years. Making significant improvements could cost as much as $125 billion annually. NCPP advocates improving pavement conditions in a cost-effective way.

In addition to acting as an advocacy group, NCPP also offers several services, including training, outreach, and research management. The center plans to cooperate with the university to create undergraduate and graduate courses and offer continuing education units as well. NCPP also will provide private clients with customdesigned training sessions onsite or at alternate locations. Further, the center will facilitate research projects in conjunction with other academic institutions and the private sector.

For more information, visit the center's Web site at www.pavementpreservation.org.