5 Since some distresses in asphalt stem from the design and construction of the pavement section, effective maintenance begins with effective design and construction. Best practices include the following: DESIGN BEST PRACTICES 1. Establish pavement mix design requirements. 2. Review the pavement mix design to verify that it meets your requirements. 3. Establish pavement section design requirements. 4. Identify the characteristics of soil that will be under the pavement through a sub-surface investigation. 5. Identify expected traffic loading on the pavement. 6. Review the pavement section design and make sure the design on the construction drawings matches it. 7. Establish construction tolerances and compaction requirements based upon local standards. CONSTRUCTION BEST PRACTICES 1. Require submittals of materials that will make up the pavement section and verify that they match the materials in the mix and pavement section design. 2. Perform inspection of pavement section construction and follow the established construction standards. 3. Verify that the subgrade material is firm and unyielding under heavy loads and require replacement of it if it isn’t stable. 4. Verify thickness of all layers of the pavement section. 5. Test compaction of all layers of the pavement section. 6. Seal asphalt to inhibit the loss of volatile compounds from the binder and to protect it from damage from ultraviolet rays, water and road salts. PURPOSE The most cost-effective way to manage pavement is to keep good roads good. This requires preserving the condition of pavement as long as possible by protecting it from damage. However, as the pavement ages, signs of distress
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