How the City of Wildwood, FL Manages Their Pavement Preservation Program
Wildwood, Florida, is one of the fastest-growing towns in the state. Due to its proximity to a major neighboring community, it is experiencing a rapid population surge. According to one source, the community is growing at a rate of 4.8% annually, with the population increasing by 22.5% since 2020.
The Problem
While exciting, growth brings new challenges, particularly in managing the town’s infrastructure. With the city’s public works department bearing the brunt of this expansion, the increased demand for services, utilities, and, most particularly, road maintenance adds complexity to the city’s operations and drives up costs.
The Solution
Wildwood struggled to maintain its asphalt assets cost-effectively for years until they adopted a new asphalt preservation method: HA5 High Density Bond Material. Below, Jeremy Hockenberry, Public Works Director, explains how the city’s new proactive approach to road maintenance with HA5 not only extended the lifespan of its roads but also drastically reduced costs.
The Role of HA5 in Proactive Pavement Preservation
With the rapid expansion around Wildwood, town leaders were concerned about strain on the city’s infrastructure, particularly its asphalt assets. The city wanted to implement a more proactive approach to maintain their pavement while using all the tools in their preventative maintenance toolbox.
“HA5 has been a tremendous product for us to use,” Jeremy said. He went on to describe how the product has exceeded their expectations, helping to extend the lifespan of asphalt assets significantly, while simultaneously lowering the financial burden for the city’s taxpayers.
The success and cost savings the community saw from using HA5 on some of its good to moderate condition infrastructure also led to support for additional projects. By lowering the cost of road maintenance, the community has been able to allocate resources to other critical infrastructure projects, such as utility work.
Essentially, HA5 has helped the town’s budget work even harder and accomplish more. The combination of durability and affordability has made HA5 a cornerstone of Wildwood’s broader infrastructure strategy, supporting the town’s continued growth.
Economic and Operational Benefits of HA5
“There’s a tremendous payback that comes with preserving your roads [in this way]. Using all the tools at the right time [allows] you to extend the life expectancy of roads. Instead of 15 to 20 years, you can get 20 to 30 years before you have to do major rehab,” Jeremy said. By extending the life of roads by up to ten years, the need for costly rehabilitation and frequent maintenance is reduced — both of which can place a costly strain on any city’s budget.
For a town experiencing the pressure of expansion, such as Wildwood, the financial benefits are clear. The reduced frequency of road repairs through HA5 not only helps preserve city resources but also minimizes disruptions to residents and businesses. Fewer road closures and maintenance projects mean less downtime, improving overall efficiency for Wildwood’s public works department and enhancing the overall quality of life for the community.
Additionally, HA5’s ability to maintain the integrity of asphalt in harsh conditions, such as Florida’s intense heat, and frequent moisture, ensures roads remain in optimal condition for longer. Its advanced formula protects against oxidative damage and water penetration, which are common causes of pavement deterioration. This durability results in a lower overall cost of ownership for the city.
As a result, Wildwood can allocate its infrastructure budget more efficiently, addressing other critical needs without compromising road quality. HA5 helps the city manage its infrastructure more effectively, ensuring sustainability even amid rapid growth and increased demand.
Conclusion
“Holbrook Asphalt [was] tremendous,” Jeremy said. “They came in on weekends, evenings — whatever it took to ensure our operations stayed functional and to mitigate any issues we had.”
Taking a proactive approach allows the city of Wildwood to carry out necessary asphalt maintenance projects while limiting the disruption to the community. By adopting a long-lasting and durable solution like HA5, the city is able to seal less frequently, which in turn disrupts residents less.
Since using HA5, Wildwood has seen significant benefits, including long-term cost savings and extended asphalt lifespan. This proactive approach to pavement preservation has also improved operational efficiency for the city’s public works departments, as fewer repairs mean less strain on resources and more resources and budget for other projects.
Other municipalities looking to improve their pavement maintenance efforts can find all the cost savings and longevity needed in HA5 High Density Mineral Bond. With HA5, municipalities can enjoy a strategic advantage in managing long-term infrastructure needs.
To learn more about the benefits of HA5, check out these additional case studies or contact Holbrook Asphalt for a consultation.
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