How Georgetown, Texas Maximizes the Life of its Asphalt Assets
Georgetown, Texas is located just 30 miles north of Austin and is well known for its historic architecture, vibrant community, and natural beauty. The city recently underwent a massive expansion of its road network, growing from 210 lane miles to 675 in a few short years.
The Problem
Previous approaches to pavement preservation, including chip seals and other pavement sealers, resulted in failures, unsatisfactory road performance, and poor driving conditions. Because of this, Georgetown residents were hesitant about trying new road maintenance products due to previous negative experiences. With limited funds and a growing road network, the community struggled to achieve the desired PCI (pavement condition index) score.
The Solution
Mark Miller, retired Transportation Manager for the City of Georgetown, Texas, decided to use HA5 High Density Mineral Bond after thorough research. Part of his research involved contacting superintendents and engineers from various cities who had used HA5 on their roads. Impressed by HA5’s performance-integrated service model and warranty offerings, Georgetown ultimately used HA5, resulting in long-lasting, better-looking roads.
Georgetown’s Search for Cost-Effective, Long-Lasting Asphalt Preservation
Nestled just north of Austin, Georgetown is a vibrant community known for its historic charm, thriving arts scene, and commitment to sustainability. With its beautifully preserved downtown square and natural attractions like Lake Georgetown and the San Gabriel River, the city has become a destination for families, retirees, and outdoor enthusiasts. Behind the scenic beauty, Georgetown is a community committed to maintaining and improving its infrastructure to support its growing population.
One area in which the city has been striving to excel is road maintenance.
Like many municipalities, however, Georgetown faced the challenge of balancing limited budgets with the need to extend the lifespan and performance of its asphalt roads. The city’s goal was ambitious but clear: maintain an average Pavement Condition Index (PCI) rating of 85 — a benchmark that ensures long-lasting roads while simultaneously managing costs for taxpayers..
“You want to try to keep your PCI as high as possible,” Mark said. “Our city council has adopted 85%, and it’s hard to maintain 85%.”
Mark described the difficulties of keeping such an extensive network of roads in good condition without straining the already tight budget. “When you’re taking care of a high number of lane miles with a certain amount of budget, you have to get the biggest bang for the buck,” Mark said. “We tried sealers and chip seals. We used overlays, hot in-place recycling, cold in-place recycling — but nothing was working.”
That’s when Mark turned to research. After learning about HA5 High Density Mineral Bond, Mark made a few calls. “I called several different states and talked to superintendents and engineers in these cities who have the ability to make these types of decisions.”
After speaking with these individuals, Mark learned they had experienced the same challenges as Georgetown regarding traditional approaches to road preservation. However, none had the long-lasting effect and aesthetic appeal of HA5. “What I was hearing from the engineers, superintendents, and other municipalities was that they had tried other products and even run comparisons where they started in one place and ran both directions. They said that within a year, [HA5] was outperforming other products,” Mark said.
Based on this information, Mark and the rest of the Georgetown board members chose HA5 High Density Mineral Bond as their approach to Georgetown pavement preservation.
HA5’s Lasting Impact: Cost Savings and Community Trust
After making the decision, Georgetown applied HA5 and waited to see how it would perform. The city was pleasantly surprised to see that the tested roads retained their color and condition over time, showcasing HA5’s durability and longevity as well as its ability to withstand harsh weather and heavy traffic.
With roads lasting longer, the community was able to reduce the need for frequent maintenance, delivering significant cost savings to Georgetown. These savings allowed the city to reallocate funds to other critical infrastructure projects, ensuring the entire road network could benefit from improved management and maintenance practices.
“If you don’t [keep] your roads in good condition, and you spend your money on the poor roads, you end up with all bad roads because you never catch up,” Mark explained. “HA5 is a superior product right off the bat, which allows the city to keep costs around road maintenance manageable.”
Along with the cost savings, one of the biggest benefits of HA5 was the positive feedback Georgetown residents provided. The improved appearance and longevity of the roads were noticeable, increasing the trust in the city’s infrastructure decisions. Mark said. “You’ve got the knowledge that you’re not going to have to come back and aggravate the people for another five, six, seven years. You’ve got something that looks nice for a long time.” Georgetown residents have appreciated the proactive approach, which reinforced Georgetown’s reputation as a community that prioritizes quality and sustainability.
HA5: A Proven Solution for Long-Term Road Maintenance
Implementing HA5 proved to be a strategic decision for Georgetown, addressing previous challenges with traditional pavement preservation approaches. The city also moved past challenges around accountability and quality control while setting a new standard for road maintenance. By incorporating HA5 High Density Mineral Bond into its infrastructure strategy, the city extended the lifespan of its roads and enhanced resident satisfaction and trust.
“It’s pretty much a no-brainer,” Mark said. “Just go with it!”
Ultimately, HA5 has become an indispensable part of Georgetown’s pavement preservation strategy, ensuring long-term benefits for the entire community.
Ready to see how HA5 can transform your community’s asphalt preservation strategy? Contact Holbrook Asphalt today to learn more. Or explore additional case studies to discover the long-term benefits other property owners have seen since using HA5.
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