PRINCE GEORGE'S MAINTAINS AND UPGRADES ITS ROADS WITH ASPHALT OVERLAYS

THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS OF PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY OPERATES AND MAINTAINS 1,200 MILES OF ROADS. THERE ARE ALL TYPES OF ROADS IN THE SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: MAIN COUNTY ROADS CARRYING AS MANY AS 25,000 VEHICLES PER DAY; COMMERCIAL-INDUSTRIAL ROADS; RURAL COUNTY ROADS; SECONDARY RESIDENTIAL ROADS; PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL ROADS; AND RURAL RESIDENTIAL ROADS. THE BUREAU OF ROADS AND BRIDGES HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS FOR THE PERIODIC REHABILITATION OF THE ROAD SYSTEM. THE FORMER OPERATION IS HANDLED BY COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHILE THE LATTER IS HANDLED BY CONTRACT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE BUREAU. ASPHALT OVERLAYS VARYING IN THE THICKNESS FROM ABOUT 0.75 INCH (SMOOTH SEAL) TO 2.5 INCHES ARE USED IN THE RESURFACING WORK. A ROAD CONDITION INVENTORY IS MAINTAINED BY THE BUREAU AND IS THE MEANS USED FOR PLANNING, SCHEDULING , AND MOST IMPORTANT, BUDGETING FOR THE MEANS TO KEEP THE SYSTEM IN PROPER REPAIR. SURVEILLANCE IS ON A REGULAR BASIS, SO PHYSICAL WORK DOES NOT GET BEHIND. RURAL COUNTY ROADS AND RURAL RESIDENTIAL ROADS WHICH WERE BUILT PRIOR TO TODAYS DEMANDING STANDARDS ARE UPGRADED FROM TIME TO TIME. IF TRAFFIC HAS INCREASED ON THE FORMER, MAINTENANCE BECOMES EXCESSIVE, AND FUNDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, THEN THEY ARE RESURFACED WITH ASPHALT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STRUCTURE, IMPROVED RIDING QUALITIES, REDUCED MAINTENANCE, AND IMPROVED SAFETY. RURAL RESIDENTIAL ROADS THAT HAVE HAD UTILITIES INSTALLED WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY ARE UPGRADED IN THE SAME MANNER. PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN ITS ROAD SYSTEM IN A VERY GOOD CONDITION FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST THE BULK OF THE NEW ROADS CONSTRUCTED DURING THE PAST 15 YEARS (THE EXPANSION PERIOD) HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED SUBSTANTIAL TO START WITH AND HAVE REQUIRED A MINIMUM OF MAINTENANCE. SECOND, A CLOSELY SUPERVISED, PERIODIC OVERLAY PROGRAM HAS STRENGHTENED AND KEPT THE OLDER ROADS IN CONDITION.

• Publication Date: 1973-6

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 8-9
• Serial:
  • Maryland Asphalt Paver
  • Publisher: Maryland Asphalt Association, Incorporated

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt pavements; County roads; Driver rehabilitation; Highway maintenance; Modernization; Overlays (Pavements); Resurfacing; Rural highways; Urban highways
• Uncontrolled Terms: Rehabilitation
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00215647
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 15 1974 12:00AM