Although the Perpetual Pavement concept was first articulated in 2000, many asphalt pavements that were constructed long ago function as Perpetual Pavements. For example, many full-depth and deep-strength pavements were built around the country in the 1960s and 1970s.

The Asphalt Pavement Alliance instituted the Perpetual Pavement Award program in 2001 to recognize DOTs and other owners of pavements that had the foresight to build pavements according to these principles. To qualify for the award, the pavement must be at least 35 years old and must have never had a structural failure.

The first winner of a Perpetual Pavement Award was the New Jersey Turnpike, which was 50 years old at that time. Between 2001 and 2009, a total of 69 pavements qualified for the award. Winners include interstate highways, rural roads, city streets, and airport runways. The easternmost winner is in Connecticut, and the westernmost is on one of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.

In addition to having served for 35 years with no structural failure, additional requirements for the award include:

• Pavement must have hot-mix or warm-mix asphalt binder and surface layers.
• There must have been no rehabilitation that has increased the total pavement thickness by more than 4 inches. (Special circumstances, such as a drastic increase in traffic, may apply. See nomination form for details.)
• Resurfacing must have been performed no more often than 13 years on average.
• Minimum project length is two miles.
• In the case of staged construction, the 35-plus year time frame against which the award criterion is evaluated begins when all stages of construction are complete.

Submittal process:

• Pavements can be submitted by the state Department of Transportation or other owner of the pavement.
• Awards are limited to one per state per year.
• Entries must be received by December 1 of the current year.

For more information, download the nomination form. Click here.