Millions of dollars are spent each year repairing and maintaining pavement throughout Portland. The street system consists of 4,842 lane miles of streets. Streets are paved through capital projects, contract paving, Local Improvement Districts and PBOT Maintenance Operations. Although Portland suspended contract paving for Fiscal Year 2012-13 through Fiscal Year 2016-17 due to the high costs of paving and the City's commitments to build the Sellwood Bridge, Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail and much-needed sidewalks on dangerous arterials in East and Southwest Portland, we are still repaving major roads and will continue to repave major roads.

Pavement management staff at PBOT fully implemented a nationally-recognized pavement management system called StreetSaver in 2012 by assigning a Pavement Condition Index rating to all 4,842 lane miles of paved streets. Pavement managers use StreetSaver to asses the current state of the system and the costs to either maintain the system in its current state or bring it to a higher rating. To reach theses outcomes, the system develops a list of pavement projects with recommended pavement treatments and costs for each.

• Pavement Treatments
• Cost Estimates for Pavement Treatment Types
• List of Scheduled and Funded Street Improvement and Paving Projects

Pavement Treatments

• Pothole repair and patching (routine, corrective maintenance) - A localized treatment method used to repair pavement defects and improve ride quality. Potholes and ruts are filled with either cold-asphalt patch or hot-asphalt patch material, depending on weather and other conditions. Performed by PBOT crews. To report a pothole, call the Pothole Hotline at 503-823-BUMP (2867) or use the PDXReporter smart phone app.

• Crack sealing (preventive maintenance) - A localized treatment method used to prevent water and debris from entering a crack and penetrating into the base and subgrade material of the road. Crack sealing involves blowing out the debris in the crack or using a saw or router to create a reservoir, then filling with a sealant. Performed by PBOT crews.

• Base repair (pavement rehabilitation) - A localized treatment method used to remove and replace both the base and the surface layers of a failed section of the road. Base repair is an isolated re-build that replaces only a particular area or bad section of the road that needs repair. A failed section of the roadway is cut out and then replaced with new base material and asphalt. Performed by PBOT crews.

• Grind and pave equal to or less than two inches (pavement rehabilitation) - If there are no noticeable base or subgrade failures but the existing surface is exhibiting extensive cracking, roughness or rutting, the top two inches of a road are ground down and replaced. Performed by PBOT crews.

• Grind and pave more than two inches (pavement rehabilitation) - Over two inches of the road are ground down and replaced. This treatment is commonly referred to in budgets as “contract paving.” Per State statute, this type of project is defined as being over two inches in depth AND having a value of over $125,000. Performed by contractors.

• Reconstruction - The construction of a new pavement structure, which usually involves complete removal and replacement of the existing pavement surface and base followed by new construction of the street. Usually, stormwater drainage, utilities under the roadway surface and other needs in the right of way are included in the project. Performed by contractors.

Cost Estimates for Pavement Treatment Types

Cost estimates as programmed in the StreetSaver pavement management system are cost estimates prior to project management, design, construction management, inspection or right-of-way acquisition.

Reconstruction Cost Estimate Notes:

The "Paving Only" cost estimates of $1 million/lane mile for reconstruction include:

• Construction costs (excavation, aggregate base, asphalt)
• Design, construction management, pavement inspection
• No costs included for ADA and stormwater improvements

The "Total Project" cost estimates of $1 million to $2.9 million/lane mile for reconstruction depend on what items below are included in the project:

• Reconstruction triggers federal/state/local requirements for ADA-compliant curb ramps and stormwater improvements.
• Additional costs or higher costs are incurred for right of way, traffic control and utility relocation.
• Additional items are required, such as lighting upgrades, signal upgrades, signage replacement/upgrade, curb replacement, drainage system upgrades (inlets and leads), and street trees.
• Additional project management, design, construction and inspection are required for the items above.