Pavement investments based on pavement management principals and strategies ensure that roadway conditions are maximized within an allowable budget. As an underlying principle, a pavement management strategy should place an emphasis on low-cost maintenance and preservation to keep pavement in good condition and prevent more expensive pavement reconstruction. 

Preventive maintenance is typically performed to an entire subzone to maintain consistency of pavement conditions within neighborhoods and to limit the construction impact on residents. Reconstruction is performed where it is most needed. 

Road reconstruction is considered when preventive maintenance treatments are no longer cost-effective or feasible, and to reconstructed roads that are currently in poor condition. In this case, the process is lengthy, there are more impacts to the abutters and the cost of reconstructing a street can exceed ten times the cost of performing a preventive treatment. 

The Town's Pavement Management Program has a complete listing of the streets that are scheduled for pavement maintenance during the current construction season. The list may be updated to account for budget, changing conditions and priorities, but the Town generally tries to keep the list the same. View the current Road Program. 

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Frequently Asked Questions: 

While our street is being reconstructed, can we get utility (gas, water, sewer, broadband etc..) upgrades? 

When streets are selected for our annual roads program, we send out the list to all underground utilities so they can plan and perform their work ahead of the paving. As a resident you should also contact them directly as there will be financial obligations on your part if the upgrade is selected to move forward. We are open to adjusting the schedule of the paving of the streets if there is a commitment to install new underground infrastructures. 

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Why is my street receiving maintenance even though it looks fine visually? 

Preventive maintenance is performed to streets to preserve the pavement before significant damage occurs.  

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Can I use my driveway while work is being performed? 

Pavement resurfacing typically involves road closures, which limit access to and from driveways until the resurfacing is ready for road traffic. This is usually accomplished over a 4–8-hour period throughout the day. Residents will be notified in advance of any road closures if necessary. If you need to use your vehicle on the day resurfacing is planned on your street, you should park on an adjacent street not scheduled for resurfacing and walk to and from your home and vehicle. You may also coordinate with construction workers to determine an estimated time of when construction will take place across your property if you need to utilize your driveway. After the treatment is performed, the road cannot be used until the material has cured. The typical curing time is 45 to 60 minutes sometimes shorter or longer depending on road and atmospheric conditions. 

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My road is in worse condition than a road that is being repaired, why isn’t my road being reconstructed this year? 

We surveyed the 108-mile network during the summer of 2021 to get a new baseline on road conditions. This new baseline allowed the Town to reset the priorities based on available funds with a goal to keep the Town’s pavement in the best condition possible. Your street was not selected in the current plan based on these two factors, but we re-evaluate our plan annually to account for changing conditions and other priorities. This re-evaluation is done in the fall of each year, we will contact you with an update if any. In the meantime, we will ask the Highway Division to perform maintenance on your street as needed. 

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How do I report an issue on my street? 

Please report the issue to Stephane Cherduville at scherduville@concordma.gov