Good Practices: Incorporating Safety into Resurfacing and Restoration Projects

Including safety improvements in pavement resurfacing and restoration projects is a subject of long-standing interest. The scan, cosponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the National Association of County Engineers, and the Federal Highway Administration, was conducted to document and disseminate information on good practices by State Departments of Transportation and local agencies to integrate safety improvements into resurfacing and pavement restoration projects. The scan team visited Colorado, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah and Washington State. The success factors observed in these States include:

– The agency’s resurfacing program is considered to be an element of its overall safety strategy.

– Agency leadership supports an integrated resurfacing-safety strategy.

– Funding of integrated safety improvements is recognized as an appropriate expenditure.

– Safety improvements are targeted and cost-effective.
“Scope creep” does not interfere with timely resurfacing.