In order to conduct a visual inspection of roadway conditions, and prepare a report, some guidelines are necessary. This is especially so, since the review and report are being conducted and prepared by unpaid volunteers. A deep search on the internet was done to find some appropriate guide for inspecting asphalt paving. Neither the County nor State of Hawai’i were found to have such a guide available online.

What appears to be an excellent guide, prepared by the Transportation Information Center of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was found and used for the 2024 roadway inspection. This is called the PASER Manual for Asphalt Roads. (PASER stands for ‘Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating).

This manual provides guidance on evaluating surface defects, surface deformation, cracking, and patching and potholes. It provides a 10-point rating system, ranging from 10-excellent to 1-failed. It also gives practical advise for rating roads. There are numerous pictures throughout the manual showing examples of the various types of surface distress. The manual states:

“The time it takes to go from excellent condition (10) to complete failure (1) depends largely on the quality of the original construction and the amount of heavy traffic loading.

“Once significant deterioration begins, it is common to see pavement decline rapidly. This is usually due to a combination of loading and the effect of additional moisture. As a pavement ages and additional cracking develops, more moisture can enter the pavement and accelerate the rate of deterioration.”

The Board is choosing to address the worst sections of roadway first, rather than go strictly with the perceived age of road. Property owners can greatly help by keeping plantings and landscaping out of rights-of-way.

The Asphalt PASER Manual can be found here.