Avoid Sky High Costs: Why Fayette County, GA Keeps Their Good Roads In Good Condition.

How Fayette County, GA Leverages Pavement Preservation To Avoid Skyrocketing Costs

If you’re looking for a prime demonstration of what pavement preservation should look like in Georgia, it’s difficult to think of a better example than Fayette County. The south-Atlanta suburb maintains roughly 500 paved miles and 50 miles of gravel roads. As a desirable area with roughly 120,000 residents, and more people moving in all the time, the county faces a struggle familiar to many municipalities: providing services the residents expect while managing their budget.

Roads are a particular area of concern for Fayette County. Bradley Klinger, Road Department Assistant Director for Fayette County, said aside from staffing, pavement preservation in the county was a major challenge. “We were looking to replace assets at a reasonable cost,” Bradley said. “Pavements are a great issue because hot-mix asphalt has never been higher, and staffing levels have driven that cost [up]. We like to have multiple tools in our toolbox for pavement preservation.”

In the past, the county relied on other treatment methods, such as seal coats, slurries, and micro-surfacing, to preserve pavement but got poor results. With costs rising rapidly, the county knew it needed to switch tactics.

That’s when the county turned to HA5 High-Density Mineral Bond from Holbrook Asphalt. With the tool, the county was able to lower rapidly rising pavement costs and improve the conditions of its roads.

The Unique Challenges of Fayette County

Located in the north-central part of Georgia, Fayette County is just over 20 miles south of downtown Atlanta. The prime location gives residents easy access to the more lively downtown areas while providing a peaceful and suburban atmosphere. The county is also well known for its more than 100-mile network of multi-use paths used by bikers, pedestrians, and golf carts. 

Bradley discussed how the county’s transportation department actively maintains these amenities and how they work on road improvement projects to accommodate the region’s growth and ensure safety. He also discussed the county’s continued focus on Georgia pavement preservation and searching for innovative ways to maintain roadways at a lower cost.

“In Fayette County, we encourage pilot projects,” Bradley said. “We want to know what’s new on the market.” That desire for innovation led the county to discover HA5 High Density Mineral Bond. The county had used the approach a few years prior and was incredibly satisfied with the results — and the price point. Bradley described how adding HA5 High Density Mineral Bond to its pavement preservation tool box helped keep pavement condition index (PCI) numbers high without spending too much. 

Fayette County Improves Road Conditions While Avoiding Inflation Costs with HA5

One of the biggest benefits Fayette County realized from using HA5 was the ability to provide high-quality services to its citizens without having to keep up with the cost of inflation around pavement preservation materials.

“We can give them a product they’re happy with — black roads and paved surfaces — without spending the dollars it takes to hot-mix, mill, and fill everything,” Bradley said, referring to the residents. This is primarily due to HA5’s exceptional ability to prevent oxidative damage over time as roads are exposed to sunlight, moisture, and oxygen. With HA5, asphalt retains flexibility as it ages, resulting in less cracking and damage to the roadway.. 

Adopting a “Do-Nothing” approach is incredibly expensive. If left untreated asphalt can last roughly 20-30 years. But replacing asphalt  can quickly get expensive. HA5 is designed to preserve the native asphalt binder, preventing oxidative damage. This results in streets that last longer and cost significantly less to own and maintain.

Using HA5 also enabled Fayette County to avoid a worst-first approach — an approach that has been repeatedly proven through engineering studies to be more expensive long-term. Bradley echoed the sentiment, saying most counties will never have enough money for the worst-first approach. “While you’re focusing on the worst, all your other pavements are working their way down towards the worst,” Bradley said. He said that by focusing on maintaining the roads you currently have — and spending your money there — you slowly reduce the amount of worse roads you have.

Optimize Your Pavement Preservation Approach with HA5

“I would absolutely recommend HA5 to other government agencies,” Bradley said. He encourages agencies to reach out to other agencies that have used HA5 to better understand the best use for it. Too often, Bradley has seen HA5 applied in locations that are not optimally suited for the material. This can result in further pavement deterioration and additional money spent on road maintenance.

“It’s not for every fix,” Bradley said. “It’s got its place in the pavement preservation toolbox. If you use it right, it’s a very good product.”

To learn more about the uses of HA5 in your pavement preservation efforts, see how additional companies have used it by reviewing our customer experiences.

Want additional information? Contact a Holbrook Asphalt representative today.