For the Gazette

Public Works Department recognized for Perpetual Pavement Design

MADISON – The Wisconsin Asphalt Pavement Association (WAPA) announced today that the City of Stevens Point was the recipient of the 2018 Local Government Asphalt Award for advancing innovation in asphalt pavements.

The Public Works Department was recognized on Nov 27 at a ceremony during the association’s 59^thAnnual Conference in Madison.

Earlier this year, the City of Stevens Point reconstructed a six lane signalized intersection with a two-lane roundabout connecting the Business 51 corridor to Interstate 39. The City requested an alternative pavement design to consider cost savings and different annual maintenance scenarios.

Heavy-duty pavements like this project are often great candidates for so-called Perpetual Pavement or long-life pavement design. A Perpetual Pavement design can also provide an attractive solution for well-traveled roads due to the increased service life in critical corridors where user delay is costly.

The City approved a $7,800 design change order as part of the bid package and the Perpetual Pavement design was $425,000 lower than the concrete bid alternative making it the pavement of choice for cost and performance. The Perpetual Pavement design detailed an initial up front construction savings of $280,000. In addition, the overall annual calculated maintenance costs of Perpetual Pavement ate $2,000/year compared to $2,800 for the alternative pavement type.

“We commend Stevens Point for innovatively designing pavements to ensure cost savings without sacrificing pavement performance,” said Brandon Strand, Executive Director for WAPA. “Perpetual Pavement designs are built to last while saving money on initial construction costs and low future taxes with quicker, easier maintenance. It’s the most cost-effective way to ensure the high level of smooth, safe ride that the public wants with minimal inconvenience.”