Managing Pavement Assets For The 21st Century: Challenges And Opportunities

Increases in traffic and loading, combined with environmental effects, are accelerating the deterioration of pavements and bridges. Infrastructure in poor condition requires constant maintenance, which increases congestion and user delays-with an adverse impact on the nation's economy and quality of life. In the past 50 years, the U.S. national highway system has fostered unprecedented economic growth and personal mobility. By 2020, however, the aging highway pavements will shoulder a 65 percent increase in highway freight tonnage and a 50 percent increase in total vehicle miles traveled. In the next 20 years, the United States faces a major challenge in maintaining the competitive edge provided by the national highway system.