Sometimes quality is in the eye of the beholder: highway users and other stakeholders share their views on what makes a successful road project

Public Roads, May-June, 2004 by Kathleen A. Bergeron

Kathleen Marvaso (AAA): "As the largest organization representing motorists--the primary user group--we define quality in terms of safety and mobility. We recognize the critical importance of properly designed and maintained roads to serve existing and future mobility needs, and the safety benefits gleaned by improved road design and construction. The transportation network is essential to commerce and the Nation's ability to prosper in a global economy, to improve our quality of life, and to facilitate national and civil defense. The ongoing need for safe, well-maintained roads and bridges is critical for the millions of Americans who travel for business or leisure."

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What Is Most Important When Building a Quality Highway?

To build and maintain successful highways, Federal, State, and local transportation agencies need to make quality a primary focus during the life of a project--planning, design, construction, and maintenance. Typical factors that influence the direction and scope of highway projects include an evaluation of the need for the new facility, anticipated future traffic demand, improved safety, specifications for performance and durability, and environmental, cost, and scheduling considerations. The interviews with key stakeholders elicited further opinions on what constitute the most important aspects of highway quality.

Darrin Roth (ATA): "Time between maintenance and repair cycles, and geometric design that accommodates the configuration of vehicles expected to use the highway."

Mike Acott (NAPA): "One of our goals is to design and build pavements that are long lasting. We talk about 'perpetual pavements,' meaning that you design the roadway so that the only work that needs to be done is on the surface. It's like a builder who builds a house. Periodically, the roofing material needs to be replaced, and some other minor maintenance, but if he builds it well, it can last a long, long time."

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Val Riva (ACPA): "Our thought is that it's important to address all aspects of design and construction. Our industry is working continuously to improve the products and processes used in paving, while also working closely with agencies to address design and construction considerations.

"We cannot overlook the need for applied research, which is essential to developing safer, more cost-effective, and better performing highways. It's imperative that this research effort involve all stakeholders to ensure we are meeting the needs of agencies and the traveling public, based on input from road builders, researchers, and public officials."

John Bukowski (FHWA): "One of the things that we talk about is speed of construction, and there are a number of tools to accomplish this-fast-setting concrete or asphalt, innovative project management techniques, or even innovative design approaches."

Kathleen Marvaso (AAA): "Safety must be paramount in all stages of road design--from planning to construction to signage. Our members tell us that they want a transportation system that is reliable, efficient, and safe. They want road repair and maintenance work to be completed on schedule, and they want their gas tax dollars at work improving the transportation systems they use in their daily lives. Educating the public to engender trust that their taxes are spent wisely is critical."