Your Pavement Plan Is Only as Good as Your Inventory

Every public works leader depends on accurate data to guide their pavement maintenance program. Without a reliable street inventory that reflects true road lengths, widths, classifications, and surface types, even the best plan will fall short.

Unfortunately, most municipal roadway inventories contain errors or outdated information. In our work with communities across the country, we have seen how small inaccuracies in the data can snowball into larger problems such as misaligned budgets, mistimed maintenance, and unnecessary costs.

When the inventory is flawed, the entire pavement management plan suffers.

Common Inventory Challenges

A roadway inventory is the backbone of any pavement management program, yet many municipalities face similar issues with their data. Common Problems With Roadway Inventories:

• Incorrect road classifications: Roadways are sometimes labeled as alleys when they are actually named streets with full access. This leads to different funding requirements and maintenance treatments than the data suggests.
  

• Surface type errors: Networks are often documented as being 100 percent asphalt when in reality a portion of the system is concrete. These materials require completely different treatment strategies and cost structures.

  
  

• Wrong lengths and widths: If a roadway width is overstated or a road length is understated, quantities are immediately thrown off. This makes it difficult for contractors to bid accurately and for staff to order the right materials and schedule appropriate crews.

Each of these issues may seem minor on the surface, but together they create significant problems. A plan built on faulty data cannot deliver accurate budgets, effective treatment recommendations, or predictable construction outcomes.

How PMG Strengthens the Foundation

Pavement Management Group specializes in correcting these data issues and building reliable inventories that serve as the foundation for long-term roadway planning. Our approach includes:

• Intersection-to-intersection precision: Every section is analyzed individually, and resurfaced portions are logged separately in our database so that treatment strategies align with actual conditions.
  

• Refined GIS inventory: We update and correct road names, classifications, lengths, widths, and surface types so the inventory reflects what is truly in the field.
  

• Segment redrawing: Outdated linework is redrawn to match current construction and roadway layouts.
  

• Surface verification: We verify whether roadways are asphalt, concrete, or a combination, eliminating the guesswork that leads to costly planning errors.

The Benefits of Accurate Data

When a municipality has a reliable and verified roadway inventory, the results are clear. Maintenance plans become tools that leaders can trust. Budgets reflect the actual conditions on the ground rather than estimates built on outdated information. Contractors receive accurate instructions that allow them to deliver projects without costly surprises. And most importantly, taxpayer dollars are used more efficiently.

No wasted budgets. No field surprises. Just clarity, confidence, and a stronger foundation for decision-making.

At Pavement Management Group, we believe every successful pavement plan begins with accurate inventory data. By fixing the foundation, municipalities gain the insight and confidence they need to stretch roadway dollars further and deliver better results to their communities.