Chapter 11 - Other Project Types

11.1. Preventative Mainenance (PM), Resurfacing, Restoration, or Rehabilitation (3R), and Reconstruction Design Guidelines For Federal Aid Projects

The purpose of this Section is to provide design guidelines and procedures that cover GDOT’s Pavement Maintenance and Resurfacing, Restoration, or Rehabilitation Program.  This program includes preventative maintenance (PM); resurfacing, restoration, or rehabilitation (3R); and reconstruction projects per the agreement between the GDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). 

PM projects are defined as the planned strategy of cost effective treatments to an existing roadway system and its appurtenances that preserves the system, retards future deterioration, and maintains or improves the functional condition of the system without increasing structural capacity.

The following are examples of PM projects:

• shoulder repair, including mitigation of edge drop offs, upgrading guardrail, and/or barrier components
• the addition of paved or stabilization of unpaved shoulders
• installation of milled rumble strips
• activities related to asphalt pavement surface preservation (e.g. crack sealing, joint sealing, slurry seal, isolated deep patching etc.)
• asphalt resurfacing that includes replacement of the surface lift of dense-grade asphalt, or an open-graded friction course (if present) not to exceed three inches.
• activities related to treatments for Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) pavements (e.g. joint sealing, grinding, dowel retrofit and partial depth repair)
• PCC slab replacement that does not exceed more than 50% of slabs.
• restoration or extension of drainage systems
• installation or replacement of signs and or pavement markings.
• removal of vegetation in clear zone
• addition and/or replacement of landscaping
• execution of encroachment permits
• activities relating to bridge preservation (e.g. crack sealing, joint repair, scour countermeasures and painting.)
• removal or shielding of roadside obstcles

Guidelines and procedures for PM projects shall be governed by the terms of GDOT’s FHWA-approved preventive maintenance agreement.

3R projects are generally defined as any pavement treatment that is neither PM nor reconstruction. The following are examples of 3R projects:

• resurfacing, restoration or rehabilitation activities related to structural asphalt pavement , including isolated base repair
• mill and inlay deeper than the first dense course, but not including the base course
• activities related to PCC pavement treatments (e.g. continuous slab replacement project that exceed more than 50 percent of the slabs being replaced in any given lane or area)
• widening of lanes and shoulders that does not increase the number of lanes
• selected alterations to vertical and horizontal alignments
• intersection improvements
• passing lane projects
• bridge and culvert rehabilitation or widening that does not increase the number of lanes

Reconstruction projects are generally more complex in project scope and carry a higher cost than PM or 3R projects. The following are examples of reconstruction projects:

• activities related to asphalt pavement reconstruction (e.g. the removal of the entire pavement structure through the base course except for isolated base repair associated with PM or 3R projects)
• activities related to PCC pavement reconstruction (e.g. slab removal and replacement that is continuous throughout the project or when a significant amount of base is being replaced)