Optimizing the Cost-Effectiveness and Time of Application of Microsurfacing

Abstract

In Louisiana, 50% of the districts use microsurfacing as a maintenance treatment with yearly expenditure of $4,700,000 (about 37% of overall budget allocated to pavement preservation) throughout the state as of 2016. Yet, limited studies have evaluated the economic benefits of such treatment, particularly in hot and wet climates. Hence, the objective of this study is to assess the economic benefits and ideal application timing of microsurfacing applied on asphalt pavements in Louisiana through conducting a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis. To achieve these objectives, performance and cost data were collected from field projects in Louisiana. Using the collected data, a number of economic measures were employed to conduct the cost-benefit analysis. Additionally, a case study was considered consisting of three maintenance strategies, which were analyzed to identify the ideal long-term approach and the corresponding application timing. Based on the analysis in this study, it was recommended to employ alternating cycles of asphalt overlay and microsurfacing, with microsurfacing applied when the PCI reaches between 80 and 84. Using this strategy, considerable funds could be saved when compared to applying microsurfacing when the PCI is outside the recommended range (80–84). Results also indicated that microsurfacing offers relatively higher economic benefits for low-volume roadways than high-volume roads. Using the study results, an automated Microsoft Excel spreadsheet was developed, which may be used to estimate the economic benefits and ideal application timing of microsurfacing given the project conditions.