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UNCOVERING HIDDEN VALUE WITH CONCRETE PAVEMENT PRESERVATION

Sep 3
2 min read
More than $4 billion in life-cycle resurfacing savings projected in Phoenix alone

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Many roadways scheduled for rehabilitation carry asphalt overlays placed to correct surface issues, not structural failure. Beneath those overlays, the original concrete often remains sound. The "buried treasure" approach, detailed in a recent article featured in ACPA’s Summer 2026 issue of Concrete Pavement Progress, gives agencies a way to recover that concrete and restore it with targeted preservation treatments rather than full reconstruction.




From reconstruction to recovery

The process begins with non-destructive evaluation to confirm slab integrity. Once verified, crews mill the asphalt overlay to expose the concrete, then apply preservation treatments matched to actual distress. Diamond grinding serves as the final step, restoring smoothness, texture and friction without changing pavement grade.


The numbers behind the value

  • Phoenix, Arizona: More than 1 million square yards scheduled for 2026, with broader estimates of 8 to 10 million square yards completed and projected owner savings of more than $4 billion in life-cycle resurfacing costs. 

  • 17-year service life: the average life of a diamond-ground surface in California. 

  • Rehabilitated up to 3 times: PCC pavement can be preserved with diamond grinding up to three times with little loss of structural or load-carrying capacity. 

  • Safer surfaces: Wisconsin DOT findings show 42% fewer accidents in all weather conditions and 57% fewer in wet conditions on diamond-ground surfaces versus tined concrete. 

  • Reusable material: Every inch of milled asphalt yields about 0.05 tons of reclaimed asphalt pavement per square yard, recoverable as base material or resale value. 


The results

Buried treasure is a strategic framework, not a cosmetic fix. It preserves an existing structural asset, reduces reliance on new asphalt, limits waste and supports more predictable budgets and faster delivery. For owners planning future rehabilitation programs, the first step is clear: determine whether hidden value already sits beneath the surface.




 
 
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