CRACKING THE MYTHS: THE TRUTH ABOUT PAVEMET PRESERVATION
Is CPP really more expensive? The numbers tell a different story
Welcome to part two of our six-part series on concrete pavement preservation (CPP) education. Each installment takes on a misconception that shapes how agencies plan, budget and make pavement decisions, and examines what the evidence actually shows. This week, we look at one of the most persistent objections in the field: the idea that CPP simply costs too much.
Prefer to listen instead?
Click on the button below to listen to a short audio summary of this content.
Myth:
CPP is too expensive to justify
Reality:
When cost comparisons focus only on the initial project bid, asphalt overlays can look like the practical choice. They are familiar, widely available and often appear cheaper on the surface. However, this approach does not treat the underlying cause of distress, and the problem often returns as a larger and more expensive repair.
CPP takes a different approach. By targeting the root causes of distress, it restores the pavement to near-original condition and extends its service life, often by 10 to 20 years or more.
It repairs only what needs repair. CPP repairs only the areas of distress within otherwise structurally sound pavement, which keeps project scope and cost in check.
It prevents expensive failures. Because CPP addresses the causes of distress instead of covering the symptoms, agencies avoid the reconstruction and replacement bills that follow a repeated overlay cycle.
The lowest bid today is rarely the lowest cost over the life of the pavement. Weighing cost against added service life is how agencies protect their networks and stretch limited budgets further.
To learn more about CPP, explore the IGGA Pavement Preservation Toolkit here https://www.igga.net/pavement-preservation-toolkit. The toolkit includes recommended repair techniques for given distresses and technical references. It is a practical resource for engineers and public works directors who need to defend preservation investments to budget committees and elected officials.
In the next installment of this series, we will debunk Myth #3 and continue building the case for smarter, more cost-effective pavement management.