Pavement Management In Atlantic Canada’s National Parks

Roads in Atlantic Canada’s National Parks cover an extremely wide scope of usage, climate, geography and range from local access roads to the TransCanada Highway. As such they service a wide range of traffic volumes and users. They have in common, however, postcard scenery, abundant wildlife and a desire by senior park managers to emphasize the “park experience” to the traveler. Eighteen years ago, Parks Canada invested in a pavement management system to effectively manage this widespread system. This paper details the management system used to measure the performance of these roads, establishment of criteria for rehabilitation based on these inspections, and the performance of the different pavement classes over the last eighteen years. Based on the data, performance models have been used to develop a multi-year plans for the rehabilitation of these roads. Eighteen years ago, the pavements were mainly in good condition, however, budget limitations since that time have often prevented timely interventions or required the use of less than optimum rehabilitation techniques. The pavement management system has been used to identify potential resurfacing projects for 2005 and 2006, creation of 5-year operational plans and the evaluation of suitable strategies for the roadway maintenance and capital improvements