Articles Tagged:blacktop

Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Your Paving Projects

Modern highway departments juggle far more than just asphalt: winter maintenance, drainage repairs, sign management, and the never-ending call log. Deciding whether to outsource paving can either sharpen your operational focus or strain an already tight budget. Below is a balanced look at the upside…continue

A Deep Dive into Pavement Condition Index - PCI

How highway departments objectively measure roadway health, and turn numbers into smarter maintenance decisions What the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) actually is The Pavement Condition Index is a numerical score (0–100) that expresses the structural and functional health of an asphalt or con…continue

When to Mill a Road Before Repaving: A Guide for Highway Departments

Overlaying an existing road with a fresh layer of asphalt is a common and cost-effective maintenance technique. However, there comes a point when adding yet another layer without milling (grinding) the surface first can lead to more harm than good. Milling is the process of removing a portion, or al…continue

PCI vs. Surface Condition: Two Ways to Evaluate Your Roads

When it comes to assessing road conditions, municipalities often turn to two main approaches: Pavement Condition Index (PCI) and Surface Condition Ratings. Both offer useful insights, but they serve different purposes and vary in complexity, time, and cost. Here's a breakdown to help you choose …continue

How Pavement Condition Index Influences Maintenance Decisions

If you’ve ever driven down a bumpy road and thought, “Wow, someone really needs to fix this,” you’ve had a firsthand experience with pavement condition, though maybe not in technical terms. That’s where the Pavement Condition Index, or PCI, comes into play. It’s t…continue

How Utility Cuts Affect Road Longevity and What to Do About Them

Utility cuts are an unavoidable part of maintaining the underground infrastructure that keeps our communities running. Water, sewer, gas, electric, and communications systems all occasionally require access beneath our roadways. However, when those cuts are not properly managed, they can severely im…continue

Cold In-Place Recycling of Asphalt Roads: Pros and Cons

As highway departments look for cost-effective and sustainable ways to rehabilitate deteriorating pavement, Cold In-Place Recycling (CIR) has gained traction as a viable alternative to traditional repaving. This method involves milling the top few inches of an existing asphalt roadway, mixing it wit…continue

Are Recycled Materials a Viable Option in Road Repairs?

As the costs of raw materials and environmental concerns rise, many municipalities and highway departments are turning to recycled materials as a potential solution for road repair and construction. But are these materials truly a viable alternative to traditional methods? What Are Recycled Road Mat…continue

Chip Sealing, Microsurfacing, and Other Alternatives to Repaving

When it comes to road maintenance, full-depth repaving is often seen as the gold standard, but it comes with a gold-plated price tag. Fortunately, municipalities have a toolbox of cost-effective, durable surface treatments that can prolong pavement life, improve safety, and preserve driving comfort …continue

Tracking Road Maintenance with Asset Management Software

For years, highway departments have relied on handwritten logs, memory, and word-of-mouth to track maintenance work. But as roads age, crews rotate, and infrastructure grows more complex, it becomes harder to keep track of what was done, when, where, and why. That’s where asset management soft…continue

The Pros and Cons of Chip Sealing

Chip sealing, also known as tar and chip or seal coating, is a widely used method for maintaining and preserving road surfaces. It involves applying a layer of liquid asphalt to the existing pavement, followed by a layer of crushed stone that is rolled into place. While chip sealing can be a cost-ef…continue

How Stormwater Drainage Affects the Stability of a Paved Road

Proper stormwater drainage is a crucial factor in maintaining the longevity and stability of paved roads. When water is not effectively managed, it can lead to a range of structural problems, increasing maintenance costs and reducing the lifespan of the pavement. In this article, we’ll explore…continue

Full Feature Set

Roadwurx is always growing and evolving. Here is the current complete feature set for our highway department software. Reach out to us if you have an questions or ideas on how we can improve. Roads You have the ability to store all of the following data for every road you add to your database: Road …continue

Why Roads Fail Prematurely

In a perfect world, pavement would last forever. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Before deciding on the proper repair, we need to understand why there may be premature distresses. Before discussing why roads fail prematurely, we need to start with, “What is a road?” What is a Road? …continue