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Metro Area Motorists Getting a Break
New paving technology will minimize motorist delay while saving taxpayer money

    Westland – Road repair budgets around the state are stretched this year, and Wayne County engineers are not alone in their quest for new paving techniques that will get them more bang for their buck.
Wayne County engineers have an eye to the future of their road program as they utilize a new paving technology on Merriman Road in Westland. The street, which impacts more than 29,000 motorists and residents daily, is currently being resurfaced with a thin concrete overlay.
    "The type of pavement design Wayne County has chosen is a four-inch concrete overlay," said Bob Risser, Executive Director of the Michigan Concrete Paving Association (MCPA). According to Risser, he and his engineers have worked closely with Wayne County officials to design the optimal overlay for the taxpayers.
    "The concrete design they have chosen to utilize is only slightly more expensive than the asphalt design they have been using for years, but will yield many more years of service," he said.
According to Wayne County engineers, the new concrete overlay will replace an existing failed asphalt overlay. Wayne County officials are expecting the new concrete overlay will last two to three times longer than their recent asphalt overlays have, reducing both cost and motorist delay over the life of the pavement. “We determined that a concrete overlay will give us more service than an asphalt overlay,” said Mike Darge, Director of Engineering for Wayne County.
Risser explained that due to existing utility structures in the area, a complete reconstruction of the road would have been a budget buster for the county.
    "With Michigan roads rated among the worst in the nation, motorists are demanding quick fixes that will be extremely durable and long-lasting," he said. “Concrete pavements and concrete overlays fit the bill,” added Risser.
Concrete overlay technology is new to the Metro Area. Wayne County first used a concrete overlay in 2000 on Outer Drive and, according to Wayne County officials, the road is still in excellent shape.

Some Fast Facts about Concrete Overlays

While concrete overlays typically last two to three times longer than asphalt overlays, they only cost an average of 10 to 15 percent more;
The ease of construction and durability of a concrete overlay will mean that motorists will not experience additional delays from road work for many years to come;
Concrete overlays have been used for many years in other states; more than 25 years in Colorado and 15 years in Iowa.