Strategic Objective: Infrastructure
Key Results: Road Assets Condition
Pavement Condition Index
Accountable: We are responsive to community needs. We are good stewards of County resources.
Why are we collecting this data?
The Department of Public Works has established a practice of measuring a street segment’s condition once every three years since roadway conditions do not change considerably from year to year.
The paved roadway network is slowly but constantly aging and deteriorating through exposure to the elements and traffic. These conditions are directly linked to the annual maintenance and repair work to protect, preserve, and restore the roads. Therefore, maintaining a consistent budget for maintenance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction is necessary. Steady and consistent maintenance and capital renewal strategies are also critical for success due to the long life of streets and the immense size and value of the network.
What data is being examined, and what metric is being calculated?
In the fiscal year 2023, El Paso County’s Public Works Department maintained a vast network of paved roadways, which included approximately 2,362 lane miles. Of those, 1,724 lane miles were rated as ‘Fair’ condition or better.
Roadway condition data is gathered using a specialized vehicle that scans the roadway surface using several technologies, such as 3D street-level imagery, Laser Crack Measuring, GPS Positioning, Longitudinal profiling, and highway reflectometer systems. This information is used to classify roadway conditions based on the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) industry standard, which determines the overall quality of the pavement. The results are then reported in a categorical rating system, which ranges from “serious” (PCI less than 25) to “good” (PCI of 86 or better).
The paved roadway network, including companion drainage structures, signage, signals, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and others, represents the County’s most significant and valuable asset worth approximately $3 billion. As of fiscal year 2023, El Paso County’s paved roadway network consisted of 1,156 centerline miles, which equals just over 2,362 lane miles of pavement. To put this into perspective, this is enough roadway to drive across the Continental United States without leaving a paved surface!
Factors Influencing Roadway Conditions and Traffic Volume
Several factors, including pavement age, maintenance types, traffic levels, weather, and soil conditions, determine roadway conditions. The service life of paved roads is mainly consumed by traffic volume and vehicle types utilizing the roadway. Roadway capacity is primarily consumed by heavier traffic, such as trucks and buses. A single passenger car has a negligible impact on road damage, while a single truck can cause as much damage as 1,000 cars. As a result, roads are typically designed to accommodate the type and volume of traffic they will regularly encounter.
El Paso County has allocated more than $50 million to asphalt paving and maintenance projects over the last two years to aggressively approach our PCI goal. While this is undoubtedly a very significant investment, it equates to less than 2% of our paved roadway network’s value. To maximize the return on this investment, the Department of Public Works has developed a preservation philosophy for maintenance and repair activities.
Over ten years, roadway conditions have been measured using PCI and another metric, the International Roughness Index (IRI), which is inversely related to PCI. We consistently deliver IRI with pavement condition survey efforts to offer an additional metric for comparison purposes. Historical condition data shows that roadway segments with a “good” condition score have increased, while roadways with a “very poor” condition score have decreased.
How is the data being used in support of our objective?
With 27% of the El Paso County paved roadway network having a PCI of “poor” or worse, efforts are focused on first improving the most necessary needs. However, industry best practices show this is not the best strategy. Through a preservation philosophy, the County is endeavoring to balance available resources, preserving roadways with a PCI greater than 56 while addressing the critical needs of roadways with a PCI of 55 or lower.
We accomplish this balance through a four-pronged approach:
- Preservation Treatments: These treatments are most practically used on roadways with a PCI of 71 or higher but can be utilized in other scenarios based on engineering judgment and desired outcomes. These treatments protect pavement surfaces from aging, oxidation, and weathering. Most treatments also seal cracks to keep water out of the pavement and extend its life.
- Asphalt Overlay: Normally reserved for pavements with a PCI of 41 to 70. Asphalt overlay is a more thorough treatment to rehabilitate the pavement’s surface and improve rideability and smoothness. This treatment can be significantly more costly than surface treatments and must be carefully selected to maximize the use of limited resources.
- Rehabilitation: This treatment is needed once routine preventative maintenance is no longer adequate and is typically reserved for pavements with a PCI of 20-40. Rehabilitation includes full-depth repairs to restore damaged areas before the entire surface can receive an overlay.
- Reconstruction: This is, by far, the most expensive pavement treatment and is needed once a high enough percentage of the pavement requires full-depth repair due to generalized failures. Full roadway reconstruction replaces the entire pavement section and is typically reserved for pavements with a PCI of less than 20.
Metric Details and Definition
- Definition: Percentage of paved roadways in El Paso County that meet or exceed a ‘Fair” condition rating based on the Pavement Condition Index (PCI values use a 0-100 rating scale based on the physical condition of a road).
- Calculation Method: Pavement Condition Index (PCI) determines the overall quality of pavement; a categorical rating system is used, which includes the following ratings: “Serious” (PCI less than 25), “Very Poor” (PCI between 26 and 40), “Poor” (PCI between 41 and 55), “Fair” (PCI between 56 and 70), “Satisfactory” (PCI between 71 and 85), and “Good” (PCI of 86 and above).
Date page was last updated: February 2025
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