Street Maintenance Program
Overview
In 2022, City of Spring Hill began the Street Maintenance Program (SMP) to maintain approximately 141 lane miles. The program seeks to effectively utilize and balance both pavement maintenance methods to most effectively manage our street network. The projects are competitively bid, and the project scope may shift depending on the bids. Work usually begin in late spring and finish in early fall, weather permitting.
Extending a street's life cycle
When the pavement is new, it holds strong through traffic and seasonal temperatures and precipitation. But over time, the effects of traffic and weather will begin to show. Pavement starts to crack or sag, but streets can stay structurally sound even with surface flaws. However, if the cracks are not maintained, moisture and debris can seep through the cracks and weaken the base and soil beneath the road. Without routine maintenance, streets deteriorate more rapidly.
The SMP uses several methods to utilize the most cost-effective way to increase the lifespan of our city streets. The goal is to increase the number of lane miles we can improve each year without significant budget increases. After several years of this program, we expect to have a manageable street lifecycle.
Evaluating streets
Spring Hill contracts with engineers from Lamp Rynearson and Stantec to evaluate streets. Using laser measuring equipment and professional engineering assessment, each street segment receives a numerical rating between 0 and 100 called the Pavement Condition Index (PCI). For the second consecutive year, the City is using those objective pavement condition scores to guide our street maintenance efforts.
| Numerical Rating | Condition | Maintenance Required |
|---|---|---|
| >70 | Good to Satisfactory | Preservation or resurface |
| 70 < 40 | Fair to Poor | Resurface or major rehabilitation |
| <40 | Very Poor, Serious, or Failed | Major rehabilitation or reconstruction |
In 2022, the network average PCI in Spring Hill was 54.4. Following the 2023 SMP repairs, the average PCI increased to 64.3. Our goal is to achieve an average PCI of at least 70.
Why not worst first?
Unlike a traditional reactive street repair approach, the SMP implements a proactive approach. The objective is to mitigate future costs by performing yearly maintenance. Each annual project includes the streets with the lowest condition scores undergoing extensive repairs, while good streets are maintained to prolong the life and reduce irreparable damage.
Street Treatments
In order of smallest to biggest cost, these are the treatments we use to maintain our roads: