Public Works Director Justin Weldy presented a $3.5 million pavement management program for the current fiscal year to the Town Council last week.

Weldy reminded the council that it determined earlier this year that it would discontinue the management practice of using zones to maintain asphalt on the streets and instead move to a needs approach. Those streets determined to be a priority for maintenance based on a study conducted by IMS will be slated for work.

The streets needing work will be prioritized based on whether they are (A) arterial, (B) collector and (C) residential streets. Weldy said the key is getting the right treatment in the right place at the right time.

“An effective pavement preservation program will address pavements while they are still in good condition and before the onset of serious damage,” Weldy said in his report. “By applying a cost-effective treatment at the right time, the pavement is restored almost to its original condition.

“Pavement maintenance is typically applied to pavements in good condition having significant remaining service life.

“As a major component of pavement preservation, preventive maintenance is a strategy of extending the service life by applying cost-effective treatments to the surface of structurally sound pavements.”

Weldy also explained a pavement condition index (PCI) used for determining maintenance needs.

Streets in very poor to poor condition are indexed at 0-40; marginal condition at 40-50; fair condition are 50-60; good is 60-70; very good are 70 to 85 and excellent are at 85-100.

The average overall PCI for Fountain Hills is 60, according to Weldy. Arterials are in the best condition with a rating of 75; collectors are indexed at 65 and local streets 55.

Weldy displayed a preliminary map for work this year in Fountain Hills. Most are slated for mill and overlay with small areas of a mineral bond.

There was no action required by the council for the presentation. They will approve the project when a contract is awarded.