Pavement Topics

• Standards
• Plans and Specifications
• Types
  • Asphalt
  • Rigid
  • Composite
• Best Practices
  • Smoother Pavements
  • Quieter Pavements
• Pavement Foundations
• Rock Products
• Life-Cycle Cost Analysis
• Environment & Traffic
  • Climate
  • Traffic
• 2011 State of the Pavement Report

Quick Reference

Quick Links

Smoother Pavements

ASTM defined roughness as: The deviations of a surface from a true planar surface with characteristic dimensions that affect a vehicle ride quality.

Smoothness Matters

In a 2002 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) survey, road condition was cited as the public’s number one criteria for satisfaction.  Other national surveys of road users list smooth pavement as a top highway characteristic. Rough or uneven pavement adversely affects driver safety, fuel efficiency, ride quality, vehicle wear-and-tear, and pavement durability.

Smoothness Specifications

• Request AC Smoothness Specification by E-Mail
• Request PCC Smoothness Specification by E-Mail

Designing for Smoothness

• Current Specifications for Smoothness
• Pilot Incentive/Disincentive Specifications
  • Criteria to Use Specification
  • How to Obtain Approval
  • Letter from Chief Deputy
  • Projects Already Approved to Pilot

Measuring Smoothness

• International Roughness Index
• National Rankings
• How Texture Relates
• Measuring Devices

Recent Articles

• Concrete Pavement Conference (PDF, 101KB)

Please forward any questions/comments/suggestions to Linus Motumah (linus_motumah@dot.ca.gov). Last updated 07/11/2012.