February 3, 2026 – The Department of Public Works presented its 2026 Asphalt Paving and Preservation Program to the Board of County Commissioners during today’s meeting.
The 2026 Asphalt Paving and Preservation Program details how the Department of Public Works will address road conditions and ensure roadways remain safe and operational for the community. The plan aims to extend the life of paved roads through strategic preservation, rehabilitation and reconstruction, with a goal of optimizing the budget and improving the Pavement Condition Index (PCI).
El Paso County owns and maintains 2,429 lane miles of paved roads. The county uses PCI — a metric on a scale of 1 to 100 — to measure the overall health of its roadway network. The goal is to increase PCI by one point each year.
A key focus of the program is road preservation — a proactive approach that maintains and protects existing conditions. Preservation is a cost-effective strategy to prevent deterioration. Every $1 spent on maintenance today saves $6 to $10 in future reconstruction costs. Rebuilding a road is 14 times more expensive than properly maintaining it, which typically occurs every five to seven years.
This program represents a strategic investment in the long-term health of our road network,” said Joshua Palmer, El Paso County engineer. “Preservation nearly doubles the life of a roadway and significantly reduces future maintenance costs.
Paved roads still wear down from traffic and weather. Early intervention with preservation treatments maximizes a road’s lifespan by preventing small cracks or issues from becoming major problems. This approach improves the Pavement Condition Index and reduces the need for costly repairs.
The Department of Public Works is using advanced technologies such as 3D profiling, LiDAR and ground-penetrating radar to analyze roadway conditions, optimize treatments and prolong the life of each road. Pairing technology with innovative treatments like cape seals and micro-surfacing allows for better performance and durability.
For more information about the county’s paving operations, visit the Department of Public Works website.