Asphalt Pavement Rehabilitation Treatment: Analysis of 20 Years of Performance

The condition of pavements in northwestern Pennsylvania was extremely poor in the early 1980s. Several methods of pavement rehabilitation of asphalt-surfaced highways were used to improve pavement performance and the management of pavement investment. This paper analyzes the performance of a number of these sections after 21 years. The results from the analysis show that, relative to conventional milling and leveling with placement of an overlay, the appropriate application of stress-absorbing membrane interlayers (SAMIs) and of cold in-place recycling has been effective for both performance and relative cost-effectiveness. The analysis also shows that for a subsequent generation of rehabilitation, the benefit of these treatments continues to be evident. As a result of this study, it is recommended that highway owners seriously evaluate rehabilitation treatments other than conventional milling and leveling with placement of an overlay. The performance of SAMI and cold-recycled sections in this instance has more than justified the additional expense of the construction.