Pavement Preservation
What is pavement preservation?
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidance describes preservation as work that is planned and performed to improve or sustain the condition of the transportation facility in a state of good repair. A common mantra of pavement preservation is keeping good roads good. Constructing quality pavement preservation treatments when the pavement condition is still satisfactory can impede deterioration, extend service life, and improve functionality in a cost-effective manner while also enhancing safety and contributing to customer satisfaction.
A good comparison is getting regular oil changes or other routine maintenance done for a car. Instead of waiting for a road to completely break down or form deep potholes, agencies fix minor surface wear early.
For more information on the County's Pavement Management Program
Why it Matters: It uses low-cost, proactive treatments to keep good roads in good condition, extending the road life at a much lower cost.
- Every $1 spent on early preservation saves $6 to $10 in future major reconstruction costs.
- These low-cost preventative maintenance treatments help the County stretch budgets to be able to treat more roads while keeping more of our roads in good condition
- Preservation improves safety by maintaining the road at a higher condition
- Helps reduce environmental impacts by preserving the asphalt that is on the ground today instead of replacing it.
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Did you get a door hanger or see a yard sign in your neighborhood?
Our TST 2026 Asphalt Rejuvenator Plan is underway! This pavement preservation project helps your road last longer in good condition.
Why is this treatment the right choice for our roads?
- Prevents Aging: Oxidation of the asphalt begins on day one. Rejuvenation replaces the light oils that allow the pavement to remain pliable and resist cracking.
- Taxpayer Savings: For every $1 spent on pavement preservation (when the road looks good), it saves $6 to $10 or more in future more robust repairs.
- Efficient Coverage: For the cost of resurfacing just one mile of failed road, we can treat 19 miles of existing roadway, adding roughly 5 years of life to each.
What to Expect & Points to Remember
The process is designed to be fast and low impact, with most streets completed in a single day.
- Access: You will have access to your driveway and street at all times.
- Parking: To avoid being towed, please remove all vehicles from the street between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
- Application: After the street is swept, the rejuvenator is spray-applied. It typically soaks into the asphalt in about 20–30 minutes. A thin layer of aggregate (a sand-like material) is applied to absorb excess material. This aggregate is swept up the following day.
- Traffic: Please observe all signs and flagger directions including driving no faster than 5 MPH, from the time the road is treated until the aggregate cover has been removed (within 2 days).
- The maintenance seal is a non-toxic, all-natural, American-sourced product.
- The all natural American-sourced maintenance seal is not harmful to vehicles and can be removed safely with vehicle soap and water.
Watch a video of the application process here
Resident Checklist
- Turn Off Sprinklers the day before and the day of treatment; the pavement must be dry.
- For Special Events, moving, garage sales, furniture/appliance deliveries, etc., call 1-800-333-6309 for assistance.
- Garbage, Mail Service & Recycling will continue as scheduled.
- Rain Delays will move work to the following day, or you will receive a new door notice.
- Safe for Pets/Children? While the product is safe for people and pets once applied, we recommend keeping them off treated areas for a few days to avoid tracking material into your home.
Map
Dorchester County's pavement management program includes County and municipal roadways. This does not include roads maintained by the South Carolina Department of Transportation. To see if your road is maintained by the SCDOT, please visit : https://ris.scdot.org/RoadwayInformationStreetFinder.aspx