Pavement Management

Maximizing Pavement Life

The City of Vancouver maintains about 1,900 lane miles of paved streets. Pavement management is a way of protecting this community asset and maximizing the life of our streets.

Overview

Each year, as part of Vancouver’s Pavement Management program, staff evaluates pavement conditions and determines the most cost-effective methods to extend pavement life and improve the driving surface. When streets begin to fail, they fail quickly and the costs to repair them increases dramatically. To use resources most efficiently, the City’s primary focus has been on keeping good streets in good condition. 

Pavement Management 2023

Vancouver’s 2023 Pavement Management Program will invest more than $13 million, including planning, design and construction, into improving pavement conditions throughout the community. More than 20 neighborhoods across Vancouver will see some type of pavement work this year. In preparation for the coming pavement work, proactive street tree and vegetation pruning along identified streets will begin in February and go through June. Preparation work continues with ADA curb ramp upgrades and pavement crack sealing/repairs usually taking place from March through early July. Then, in most areas, actual pavement work will occur between late June through September.

Resources

Resurfacing – hot mix asphalt paving – will occurred on approximately five lane miles of streets, including East Fourth Plain Boulevard, Fort Vancouver Way, East McLoughlin Boulevard, East 18th/20th Street, Northeast 58th Street, Northeast 49th Street and Southeast Evergreen Highway. In addition, about three miles of residential streets currently in poor or failed condition will be resurfaced/rehabilitated in Harney Heights, Vancouver Heights, Oakbrook, Old Evergreen Highway, Fircrest, Mountain View and Cascade Highlands.

Pavement preservation – which includes microsurfacing, slurry seal, asphalt rubber chip seal, and cape seal treatments – is another big component of the City’s annual Pavement Management Program. For 2023, almost 16 miles of streets in west Vancouver will see some type of preservation used to protect and extend the life of the street. Some of those street segments include Kauffman Avenue, East Reserve Street, Northeast Ross/54th Street, Northeast 51st Street, Northeast 66th Avenue, Northeast Vancouver Mall Drive/Loop, Saint Helens Avenue, Southeast Ellsworth Road and Lieser Road.

Curb ramps at nearly 127 locations along the various project routes will be upgraded, as required by federal regulations, to current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards to improve accessibility and mobility for all.

Pavement Management Methods

  1. Resurfacing Paving (see tab for more info)
      Asphalt Paving
      Street Rehabilitation
  2. Preservation Surface Treatments (see tab for more info)
      Microsurfacing
      Slurry Seal
      Chip and Fog Seal
      Cape Seal
      Asphalt Rubber Chip Seal
      Bonded Wearing Course

More Resources and Contacts for General Questions

Resurfacing

Resurfacing Paving Projects

Pavement Resurfacing/Overlay

The City adopted a long-term Street Funding Strategy in 2015 to address pavement conditions and improve the overall street system for all users. As the funding has ramped up to its full implementation, Vancouver has expanded it’s pavement program to improve more streets.

Resurfacing Projects

The 2023 program will include paving more than five lane miles, including segments along of East Fourth Plain Boulevard, Fort Vancouver Way, East McLoughlin Boulevard, East 18th/20th Street, Northeast 58th Street, Northeast 49th Street and Southeast Evergreen Highway.

The Pavement Management Program will join forces with the Community Development Department’s Transportation Planning Division to implement new street elements along East Fourth Plain Boulevard and Fort Vancouver Way after the paving work is completed. Vancouver community members have provided extensive input for this safety and mobility project.

To maximize available resources, the pavement program often join forces with City utility projects for repaving after utility work is completed. 

Rehabilitation Projects

In 2023, approximately three miles of residential streets currently in poor or failed condition will be resurfaced in Harney Heights, Vancouver Heights, Oakbrook, Old Evergreen Highway, Fircrest, Mountain View and Cascade Highlands neighborhoods. Funding for rehabilitation of residential streets is supported by the City’s adopted long-term Street Funding Strategy to take care of and improve our community’s street system. 

Resources

Pavement Map: View the current 2023 Pavement Management Program map. Map is subject to changes.

Reference Guide: View a handy reference guide with tips for upcoming pavement work. This guide has information about parking restrictions, watering restrictions and potential weather-related delays, along with general dos, don’ts and other tips.

Project Phases

Phase 1 – Curb Ramps

Preparations begin for the annual summer paving projects with curb ramp work along streets slated for overlay paving. This first phase of construction involves installing new or reconstructing identified pedestrian ramps to bring those corners up to current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) required standards. This occurs several months prior to actual paving work. Learn more about the City’s annual curb ramp program.

Phase 2 – Pre-paving Preparations

In the second phase, crews will repair pavement by removing the most badly damaged areas and rebuilding those pavement sections. This is followed by pre-leveling of low areas where needed.

Phase 3 – Grinding and Paving

The third phase involves the actual grinding and paving of the street surface. Please remember that all paving is highly dependent upon weather and construction conditions.

Phase 4 – Striping and Finishing

Following paving, crews restripe streets and complete any finishing work, such as replacing speed cushions and signal detection loops.

What is an Overlay?

Overlays are a mixture of coarse rock and asphalt, about two inches or more in depth that provide additional load carrying capacity and a smoother ride. One major consideration of resurfacing streets is the ability to coordinate that needed work with other street, water, sewer and underground utility improvements. For example, the City often maximizes available dollars by scheduling overlay as a final step in various water/sewer repair work and Sewer Connection Incentive Program (SCIP) projects.

What to Expect Prior to Paving?

In most cases, residences and businesses fronting impacted streets receive door hanger notices in advance of paving. Within construction zones, drivers are asked to be prepared for delays, watch for traffic changes, proceed slowly, and be alert to construction workers, bicyclists, pedestrians and other motorists. Regardless of the type, all paving applications are highly weather dependent.

Construction hours are typically from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, though work may continue as late as 8 p.m. if needed. All paving applications are highly weather dependent.In case of rain, paving must be postponed and rescheduled.

The first phase of work includes reconstruction of pedestrian ramps to bring those corners up to current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) required standards and any modifications to traffic signals. Then pre-paving repairs are done on the most badly damaged areas by excavating below the existing pavement and replacement of base materials. Finally, work continues with grinding, followed by actual paving. Crews finish up with restriping the streets.

Questions?

Construction questions during summer street work:
Public Works Construction Services: 360-487-7750
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Files

Pavement Reference Guide

Preservation Surface

Preservation Surface Treatment Projects

What is Pavement Preservation? 

There are a variety of preservation (preventive) treatments used to extend the life of streets at a much lower cost than a standard asphalt overlay. The type selected for a particular streets depends upon several factors, such as current surface condition, carrying capacity and travel use Pavement Management’s preservation (preventive street treatment) projects alternate each year between the east and west sides of Vancouver. The focus for 2023 is on neighborhood areas west of Interstate 205.

2023 Preservation Treatments

For 2023, almost 16 miles of streets in west Vancouver will see some type of preservation used to protect and extend the life of the street. Some of those street segments include Kauffman Avenue, East Reserve Street, Northeast Ross/54th Street, Northeast 51st Street, Northeast 66th Avenue, Northeast Vancouver Mall Drive/Loop, Saint Helens Avenue, Southeast Ellsworth Road and Lieser Road. Advance tree trimming, curb ramp upgrades and crack sealing/repairs occurred where needed. Actual pavement work typically takes place between July and September.

Here are the neighborhoods where preservation street work is planned. 

  • Lincoln
  • Carter Park
  • West Minnehaha
  • Rose Village 
  • Central Park
  • Hudson’s Bay
  • Van Mall
  • Vancouver Heights
  • Ellsworth Springs
  • Old Evergreen Highway

Resources

Pavement Map: View the current 2023 Pavement Management Program map. Map is subject to changes.

Reference Guide: View a handy reference guide with tips for upcoming pavement work. This guide has information about parking restrictions, watering restrictions and potential weather-related delays, along with general dos, don’ts and other tips.

Curb Ramp Improvements Prior to Surface Treatments

As a precursor to the surface treatment work, crews often install new intersection curb ramps or retrofit existing curb ramps at various, identified intersection locations to meet compliance requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Click here to learn more about the City’s annual curb ramp program.

What to Expect Prior to Street Work?

In most cases, residences and businesses fronting impacted streets receive door hanger notices in advance of pavement street work. Within construction zones, drivers are asked to be prepared for delays, watch for traffic changes, proceed slowly, and be alert to construction workers, bicyclists, pedestrians and other motorists. Regardless of the type, all pavement applications are highly weather dependent.

Construction hours are typically from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, though work may continue as late as 8 p.m. if needed. All paving applications are highly weather dependent. In case of rain, work must be postponed and rescheduled.

Types of Pavement Preservation:

Microsurfacing begins as a coarse liquid application of dense-grade aggregate, asphalt emulsion, water and mineral fillers. The quick-setting emulsion allows traffic to begin using the new surface in a short time, as little as an hour depending upon conditions. As the product cures, the surface becomes smoother. The finished sealant forms a thin shell over the street’s existing asphalt surface, extending the life of the underlying pavement. Microsurfacing applications are generally applied on arterial and higher volume streets. 

Slurry Seal is a mixture of fine rock, asphalt, and water placed on the pavement about ¼-inch thick to protect the surface from sun and rain. Slurry seal applications are generally applied on lower volume local and residential streets.

Chip Seal is a layer of sprayed emulsified asphalt and then a layer of new rock. A chip seal treatment typically extends the life of a road by seven to 10 years and provides a new sealed surface at a fraction of the cost of a standard asphalt overlay.

Cape Seal is a surface treatment that begins with a chip seal and then combines a final slurry seal, or even a microsurface, application. This treatment can greatly extend the life of the roadway.

Chip and Fog Seal treatment begins with a chip seal and then is finished up with a fog seal. Chip seal methods can include an asphalt rubberized chip seal or a ¼-inch chip seal, both helping increase durability, decrease loose chips and improve smoothness of the street. The type of chip seal method used depends on the amount of current traffic on the roadway.

Asphalt Rubber Chip Seal is a treatment that involves an asphalt rubber binder being applied to the street, then topped with a layer of chipped rock. Crews then apply a fog seal – a thin layer of liquid asphalt that coats and preserves the pavement to extend its life – to the surface. 

Bonded Wearing Course is an open-graded, thin hot-mix asphalt mixture applied over a thick polymer asphalt emulsion membrane. The high binder content seals the underlying road, protecting it from water infiltration and slowing the aging process. Bonded wearing courses have been used throughout the country and were used in Vancouver for the first time in 2018.

Questions?

Construction questions during summer street work:
Public Works Construction Services: 360-487-7750
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Files

Pavement Reference Guide

Schedules

Pavement Management Program | Updated Oct. 2023

General Timelines

Vancouver’s Pavement Management program begins with preparations such as ADA curb ramp upgrades, tree/vegetation pruning and preliminary pavement crack sealing/repairs. This work usually takes place from March through early July. Federal requirements mandate that curb ramps be upgraded to current ADA-compliant standards along streets receiving treatments that are considered an alteration, such as paving or cape sealing. In areas where ADA-compliant ramps exist, no changes are required.

New for 2023: The Pavement Management Program is coordinating with Urban Forestry, both divisions of Public Works, to embark on a comprehensive proactive street tree maintenance program to protect the health and structure of trees in our community. Pavement repairs, sealing of cracks and construction of ADA ramps will also take place prior to paving and preservation work. Street tree and vegetation pruning will occur from Feb./March through June.

The Pavement Management work of resurfacing, rehabilitation and pavement preservation typically occur from the middle of June through early September. Any striping/pavement markings removed during street work will be reapplied after the surface is ready. Please allow for curing time and weather conditions.

Resources

Pavement Map: View the current 2023 Pavement Management Program map. Map is subject to changes.

Reference Guide: View a handy reference guide with tips for upcoming pavement work. This guide has information about parking restrictions, watering restrictions and potential weather-related delays, along with general dos, don’ts and other tips.

All pavement work is highly weather dependent, and schedules can change.

Crews are wrapping up preservation treatments with nighttime striping planned for the week of Sept. 4.

Pavement Resurfacing

Most pavement resurfacing work is expected to occur from July through October. More details will be provided for dates and timelines as scheduled are developed.

  • East Fourth Plain Boulevard (Main Street to Fort Vancouver Way) – Work is scheduled to start Oct. 2, with work being done at night from approx. 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. One lane of traffic will be maintained in both directions during the work. There will be impacts to I-5 on and off ramps with several closures needed during the resurfacing work. Stay alert to message board signs along both I-5 and Fourth Plain.
  • Pavement Resurfacing – Mainly completed
  • Pavement Rehabilitation – Completed
  • Preservation Treatment – Completed
  • Slurry Seal Treatment – Completed
  • ADA Curb Ramp Upgrades – Completed
More Details

Time, traffic and weather take their toll on all pavement surfaces. For more than 20 years, Vancouver’s leaders have supported a Pavement Management Program that provides safer driving conditions and extends the life of our streets.

Public Works maintains about 1,900 lane miles of paved streets, and can address approximately 20-25 miles of roadway each year, based on current funding levels. The two most common types of pavement treatments are resurfacing and preservation applications. Resurfacing replaces the street surface, where other treatments coat the street and help preserve its condition. Both extend the life of the street, but, as the chart below shows, offer distinct differences that can be targeted to specific street needs. Through our Pavement Management Program, we can choose the best method for protecting our transportation needs.

The Path to Selection: How the Streets and Treatments are Chosen

Streets included in our annual resurfacing projects are carefully evaluated and inspected under the guidelines of our Pavement Management Program. The City of Vancouver maintains a database of surface conditions and work history for more than 6,500 sections of city streets. Each year, 290 miles of streets are visually inspected to see how they are holding up to transportation demands and our Northwest weather. After roads are inspected, a condition index is calculated from 0-100. The overall condition of the City’s road system is rated a 63. Generally, streets rated 70-100 are considered “good.” City staff members evaluate the potential resurfacing candidates and create a project list based on a number of criteria.

One major consideration is the ability to coordinate needed pavement resurfacing with other street, water, sewer and underground utility improvements. Most major streets also receive additional engineering analysis to further evaluate conditions. After all factors have been considered, the candidates are reviewed and a final project list is developed for slurry seal and asphalt overlay.

“Why not our street?” 

Unfortunately, the need for surface treatment is greater than can be met by available funds. However, since the street system is evaluated annually, watch for your street on future resurfacing project lists.

Beneath the Surface: Why the Pavement Management Program is Important

When it comes to moving people and materials in Vancouver, the streets are our most vital asset. It would take more than $450 million to replace the driving surface of our more than 177 miles of arterial and 403 miles of residential streets. An investment this important should be carefully preserved and maintained for our residents. Vancouver’s Pavement Management Program does just that.

The Pavement Management Program seeks to balance preservation with replacement of existing surfaces. The most cost-efficient way to correct any street surface problem is to address issues when they first appear. That is why funds are targeted at streets rated in fair-to-good condition. Without this preventative maintenance, these streets would quickly deteriorate and be much more costly to fix.

The “pavement life curve,” shown below, illustrates this point. Pavement may appear to be in good condition for a long time. However, when it fails, it fails quickly and repair costs increase dramatically. Preventative maintenance, such as slurry seals, extends the life of Vancouver’s valuable street system. In addition to lowering costs over time, other advantages of our Pavement Management Program include: more predictable funding needs, fewer premature pavement failures, safer road conditions and reduced time spent in traffic due to construction. The Pavement Management Program is also responsible for issuing permits to franchise utilities such as cable, phone, electricity and gas. This permitting process seeks to find alternatives to cutting existing streets.