How Arlington, TN Treats More Road for Less with HA5 High Density Mineral Bond

When Terry came to Arlington Public Works, he recognized the need for a comprehensive road maintenance strategy. The town’s road network was expanding rapidly, and past practices favored reactive paving over proactive preservation. But building a pavement preservation program isn’t an easy task. So where did Terry start?

“When I first came over to public works, as we were expanding, I knew that I needed some help,” Terry said. “So I called in a company that specializes in road maintenance and helping you with your road maintenance plan.”

The specialists conducted a complete inventory of Arlington’s roads, assigning each segment a PCI score. This created a baseline that allowed Terry to identify which roads needed immediate attention and which were candidates for preservation.

“That gave me the ability to look at where my worst roads were, where my good ones were, and from that I could develop a plan,” Terry explained. “Using the right treatment for the right road at the right time, I fully agree with that.”

With the first step complete, Terry built a strategic approach leveraging the data his team had collected. They allocate roughly 30% of the annual budget to preservation treatments, reserving the rest for roads too far gone for preservation. The town re-evaluates its network every 2-3 years, adjusting the plan as conditions change.

As Terry researched preservation options, chip seal, fog seal, crack seal, etc., he attended a seminar where a Nashville-area Public Works Director shared his approach to vetting new products.

“He was doing a talk about different treatments and different roads, and HA5 was one of the ones that he talked about,” Terry recalled. “He would have people who came in with a treatment go out and do a section of road. ‘If you want me to use this, prove to me it works. Put it on a section of road out here, let me see it over time.’ HA5 is one that he had recommended.”

Impressed by the peer endorsement and independent validation, Terry researched HA5 further and decided to test it in Arlington.

Results: More Roads, Better Appearance, Lower Costs

The impact of Arlington’s preservation program has been substantial. By treating good roads early with HA5, the town preserves significantly more lane miles per dollar than an overlay-only budget would permit.

Roads stay in good condition longer, delaying the need for costly rehabilitation and improving overall network health.

The visual results have been equally impressive. Neighborhood streets look freshly paved and stay dark for years, dramatically improving resident satisfaction. “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,” Terry said. “You’ve got something that looks nice for a long time.”

The cost-effectiveness is straightforward: more lane miles treated, longer-lasting results, and fewer emergency repairs. By allocating 30% of the budget to preservation, Arlington avoids the expensive cycle of waiting for roads to fail before acting.

A Proven Tool in Arlington’s Preservation Toolbox

For Terry, HA5 has become an essential part of Arlington’s road maintenance strategy. It complements the town’s pavement preservation toolbox by being an option to extend the life of roads while they’re still in good condition.

“I would recommend HA5,” Terry said. “I think it’s one of the better tools in the toolbox to utilize.”

By combining data-driven planning with strategic treatment selection, Arlington has built a sustainable preservation program that stretches tax dollars while keeping residents satisfied with road conditions.

How Working with Holbrook and HA5 Can Help Your Community Treat More Roads For Less

Terry praised Holbrook’s execution and customer service throughout the project:

“It’s been great working with Holbrook. Everybody’s been great. The guys out here working—any issues that we’ve come across, they have taken care of immediately. They work well with the residents. It’s a disruptive process, but it’s worth it, and I think the residents appreciate it afterward. They’ve done a tremendous job.”

Ready to introduce HA5 High Density Mineral Bond into your city? Contact Holbrook Asphalt today to learn more, or explore additional case studies to discover the long-term benefits other municipalities have experienced with HA5.