2019 Pavement Condition Report For Berrien County, Michigan · Berrien County 2019 Pavement Condition Report 2 Overview of the PASER Rating System Each year, the Southwest Michigan

The State of Michigan Transportation

2019 Pavement Condition Report

For Berrien County, Michigan

Prepared by the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission

376 W Main St

Benton Harbor, MI 49022

(269) 925-1137

Berrien County 2019 Pavement Condition Report

1

Overview of The PASER Rating System .............................................................................................................. 2

Summary of Berrien County 2018-2019 Ratings ................................................................................................ 4

Countywide Trends in Pavement Conditions ..................................................................................................... 5

Road Miles Within Berrien County ..................................................................................................................... 6

Summary Ratings by Jurisdiction ....................................................................................................................... 7

PASER Rating Charts ......................................................................................................................................... 10

For more information visit: www.michigan.gov/tamc

Questions about this report can be sent to:

Brandon Kovnat, SWMPC Associate Planner

[email protected]

(269) 925-1137 x 1524

http://www.michigan.gov/tamc

mailto:[email protected]


2

Overview of the PASER Rating System

Each year, the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission collaborates with MDOT and local county road

agencies to assess the pavement conditions of the federal aid eligible roads in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren

Counties. Staff members from each of the agencies are trained and certified annually to use the Pavement

Surface Evaluation and Rating system (PASER) by the Transportation Asset Management Council (TAMC).

PASER is a system designed to visually assess pavement condition while driving (known as a windshield

survey) and assign a value of 1 thru 10 based on the observed defects.

Good Condition Fair Condition Poor Condition PASER Rating 8-10 PASER Rating 5-7 PASER Rating 1-4 Requires Routine Maintenance Requires Capital Preventative

Maintenance Requires Structural Improvements or Reconstruction

The costs of rehabilitation

are exponentially higher than

the costs of preventative

maintenance, a full

reconstruction being the

most expensive treatment

option. Asset management

best practices encourage

preventative maintenance to

slow decay and reduce costs.

It Is necessary to know the pavement condition of roads when monitoring them; this allows for

more accurate estimates of the treatment costs and ensures fewer roads reach the critical distress

point (CDP) – the point at which maintenance is no longer effective.


3

Each year, SWMPC, MDOT, and Berrien County work as a team to rate half of the federal aid eligible roads

in the county using the PASER system. In 2019, the southern portion of the county was completed, while

the norther portion was completed in 2018. This report, therefore, combines two years of ratings to show

the ratings for the entire county.


4

Summary of Berrien County 2018-2019 Ratings

2018/2019 All Federal Aid Miles by PASER Rating

Just over half of the rated roads are in poor condition (PASER rating of 1-4), many rated as a four. At a rating of four, a structural overlay is recommended, but certain capital preventative maintenance (CPM) treatments can still be performed. Once a road deteriorates below a four, more costly treatments, such as full reconstruction, are required.

2018/2019 Local and MDOT Maintained Federal Aid Miles by PASER

Locally maintained roads are, in general, in far worse condition than MDOT maintained roads. This is largely because more federal and state funding goes first, toward interstate maintenance and then, to the other highways and major arterials, which make up the National Highway System. These roads are maintained primarily by MDOT.

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

225

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

PASER Rating

0

100

200

300

Poor Fair Good

Comparison Between MDOT and Locally Maintained Roads

Locally Maintained MDOT Maintained

MDOT: 333 miles

Good Fair Poor

20.0% 49.0% 31.0%

Local: 422 miles

Good Fair Poor

12.1% 19.0% 68.9%

52.2%32.2%

15.6%


5

Countywide Trends in Pavement Conditions

Ten-Year Trend in Countywide PASER Ratings 2010-2019 Includes City, Village, Road Department, and MDOT Maintained Roads

Because only half the county is rated per year, the 2018 and 2019 ratings are paired to show the trends for

the entire county.

2010-2019 Trends in Roads Rated Good, Fair, and Poor Includes City, Village, Road Department, and MDOT Maintained Roads

26.7%38.8% 40.3%

55.1% 52.2%

56.1%43.5% 44.7%

32.6%32.2%

17.2% 17.6% 14.9% 12.3% 15.6%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2010-2011 2012-2013 2014-2015 2016-2017 2018-2019

Poor Fair Good

20

10

-20

11

20

10

-20

11

20

10

-20

11

20

12

-20

13

20

12

-20

13

20

12

-20

13

20

14

-20

15

20

14

-20

15

20

14

-20

15

20

16

-20

17

20

16

-20

17

20

16

-20

1720

18

-20

19

20

18

-20

19

20

18

-20

19

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

Poor Fair Good


6

Road Miles within Berrien County

Jurisdiction Total Miles

Non Federal

Aid

Federal Aid

Total Locally Owned

MDOT Owned

Village of Baroda 4.7 4.2 0.6 0.6 -

City of Benton Harbor 59.7 41.8 17.9 15.5 2.4

Village of Berrien Springs 12.3 9 3.2 2.3 1

City of Bridgman 18.4 10.2 8.1 3.8 4.4

City of Buchanan 28.7 22.6 6.1 6.1 -

City of Coloma 11.8 8.1 3.6 3.6 -

Village of Eau Claire 5.8 4.1 1.8 1.8 -

Village of Galien 5.9 4.6 1.3 1 0.3

Village of Grand Beach 11.3 11.3 - - -

Village of Michiana 8.4 8.4 - - -

City of New Buffalo 26.1 23.5 2.6 0.8 1.9

City of Niles 71.2 54.5 16.7 10.7 6.1

Village of Shoreham 4.2 2.3 1.8 0.5 1.4

City of St, Joseph 49.8 30.5 19.3 12.1 7.2

Village of Stevensville 12 4.8 7.2 4.6 2.6

Village of Three Oaks 11.4 9.2 2.2 1.3 0.9

City of Watervliet 12.9 9.2 3.7 2.5 1.2

Bainbridge Twp 77.7 49.6 28.1 21.7 6.4

Baroda Twp 51.5 36.5 15 15 -

Benton Twp 193.6 99.7 93.9 46.2 47.7

Berrien Twp 89.7 55.7 34 15.8 18.3

Bertrand Twp 95.4 53.7 41.7 17.5 24.2

Buchanan Twp 76.9 58 18.8 18.8 -

Chikaming Twp 83.8 48.6 35.2 20.2 15.1

Coloma Twp 66.2 42.6 23.6 16.1 7.5

Galien Twp 52.5 41.9 10.5 4.8 5.7

Hagar Twp 84 52.5 31.5 9.7 21.8

Lake Twp 57.1 33.1 24 14 10

Lincoln Twp 105.1 68.4 36.7 23.8 13

New Buffalo Twp 68.4 34.3 34.1 9.3 24.8

Niles Twp 154.5 94.2 60.3 23.7 36.7

Oronoko Twp 89.3 55.6 33.7 18.2 15.5

Pipestone Twp 83 66.2 16.8 9.4 7.4

Royalton Twp 53.9 35.5 18.4 10.3 8.1

Sodus Twp 67.4 31.1 36.4 18.3 18.1

St Joseph Twp 62.2 46.8 15.4 8.3 7

Three Oaks Twp 42.3 31.7 10.6 6.5 4.1

Watervliet Twp 41.6 21.1 20.5 8.1 12.5

Weesaw Twp 68.2 48.4 19.8 19.8 -

Total 2,118.90 1,363.60 755.3 422.2 333.1


7

Summary of Ratings by Jurisdiction

2018/2019 All Federal Aid Road Ratings within Townships

Includes Berrien County Road Department, and MDOT Maintained Roads

An interactive map showing ratings for all federal aid roads can be found at: www.michigan.gov/tamc

Total Miles Rated: 659

54.1%

78.6%

66.9%

29.6%

48.5%

50.3%

45.9%

45.7%

66.7%

42.2%

33.9%

61.3%

68.8%

47.8%

56.5%

60.9%

38.2%

40.2%

56.4%

39.6%

19.2%

57.3%

33.8%

25.0%

60.9%

45.2%

10.3%

31.2%

39.7%

33.3%

54.7%

6.7%

20.7%

18.4%

48.4%

32.1%

37.5%

46.3%

38.5%

60.4%

48.3%

31.5%

12.1%

20.2%

8.1%

9.5%

6.3%

39.4%

22.9%

14.6%

59.4%

18.0%

12.8%

11.4%

15.5%

55.7%

32.5%

11.1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Bainbridge Twp

Baroda Twp

Benton Twp

Berrien Twp

Bertrand Twp

Buchanan Twp

Chikaming Twp

Coloma Twp

Galien Twp

Hagar Twp

Lake Twp

Lincoln Twp

New Buffalo Twp

Niles Twp

Oronoko Twp

Pipestone Twp

Royalton Twp

Sodus Twp

St Joseph Twp

Three Oaks Twp

Watervliet Twp

Weesaw Twp

Poor Fair Good

http://www.michigan.gov/tamc


8

2018/2019 All Federal Aid Road Ratings for Cities & Villages Includes City, Village and MDOT Maintained Roads

Total Miles of Locally Maintained Roads Rated: 96

85.9%

60.5%

23.3%

12.9%

81.5%

76.6%

89.4%

48.9%

56.4%

77.4%

74.3%

52.0%

59.8%

78.5%

9.4%

14.1%

32.6%

64.8%

43.5%

17.6%

8.7%

51.1%

43.6%

15.5%

39.4%

6.0%

21.5%

43.6%

6.8%

11.9%

43.6%

14.7%

10.6%

7.1%

25.7%

8.5%

34.2%

47.0%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Baroda

Benton Harbor

Berrien Springs

Bridgman

Buchanan

Coloma

Eau Claire

Galien

New Buffalo

Niles

Shoreham

St Joseph

Stevensville

Three Oaks

Watervliet

Poor Fair Good


9

2018/2019 Locally Maintained Federal Aid Road Ratings for Townships

Road Maintained by the Berrien County Road Department

Total miles of Berrien County Road Department roads rated: 355.5

70.1%

78.6%

76.6%

43.9%

72.0%

50.3%

79.3%

61.6%

100.0%

62.4%

58.1%

84.0%

83.2%

82.0%

79.7%

97.0%

32.1%

74.1%

73.6%

61.8%

46.4%

57.3%

15.5%

17.9%

35.6%

17.6%

10.3%

15.5%

26.0%

37.6%

10.8%

11.6%

11.7%

5.4%

40.3%

5.2%

19.3%

38.2%

49.7%

31.5%

14.4%

20.2%

5.5%

20.5%

10.4%

39.4%

5.2%

12.4%

31.0%

13.7%

6.3%

14.9%

27.7%

20.8%

7.2%

11.1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Bainbridge Twp

Baroda Twp

Benton Twp

Berrien Twp

Bertrand Twp

Buchanan Twp

Chikaming Twp

Coloma Twp

Galien Twp

Hagar Twp

Lake Twp

Lincoln Twp

New Buffalo Twp

Niles Twp

Oronoko Twp

Pipestone Twp

Royalton Twp

Sodus Twp

St Joseph Twp

Three Oaks Twp

Watervliet Twp

Weesaw Twp

Poor Fair Good


10

2018/2019 Locally Maintained Federal Aid Road Ratings for Cities & Villages

Roads Maintained by City and Village Public Works Departments

Total miles of locally maintained city and village roads rated: 67

85.9%

69.0%

9.4%

27.9%

81.5%

76.6%

89.4%

59.3%

75.0%

50.0%

93.1%

75.9%

14.1%

14.1%

23.2%

73.7%

72.1%

17.6%

8.7%

40.7%

100.0%

15.8%

36.8%

6.9%

24.1%

65.3%

7.9%

16.9%

14.7%

10.6%

9.2%

100.0%

13.2%

20.6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Baroda

Benton Harbor

Berrien Springs

Bridgman

Buchanan

Coloma

Eau Claire

Galien

New Buffalo

Niles

Shoreham

St Joseph

Stevensville

Three Oaks

Watervliet

Poor Fair Good


11

2018/2019 MDOT Maintained Federal Aid Road Ratings within Townships

Note: Baroda, Buchanan, and Weesaw Township do not contain any MDOT maintained roads. MDOT maintains all Interstates (e.g. I-94), US routes (e.g. US-31), and M-routes (e.g. M-60). All MDOT

maintained roads are classified as federal aid roads.

0.0%

57.5%

17.2%

31.5%

0.0%

11.9%

38.9%

33.3%

19.6%

63.4%

25.8%

29.2%

19.1%

46.0%

5.8%

36.2%

0.0%

95.6%

0.0%

31.9%

82.8%

65.1%

0.0%

52.3%

69.0%

61.1%

62.3%

37.5%

24.1%

72.0%

63.6%

80.9%

54.0%

61.3%

96.1%

47.3%

0.0%

0.0%

10.6%

0.0%

46.5%

19.1%

99.0%

42.9%

12.5%

7.2%

91.2%

51.1%

0.0%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Bainbridge Twp

Baroda Twp

Benton Twp

Berrien Twp

Bertrand Twp

Buchanan Twp

Chikaming Twp

Coloma Twp

Galien Twp

Hagar Twp

Lake Twp

Lincoln Twp

New Buffalo Twp

Niles Twp

Oronoko Twp

Pipestone Twp

Royalton Twp

Sodus Twp

St Joseph Twp

Three Oaks Twp

Watervliet Twp

Weesaw Twp

Poor Fair Good


12

2018/2019 MDOT Maintained Federal Aid Road Ratings for Cities & Villages

Note: The Village of Baroda, city of Buchanan, City of Coloma, and Village of Eau Claire do not contain any

MDOT maintained roads.

MDOT maintains all Interstates (e.g. I-94), US routes (e.g. US-31), and M-routes (e.g. M-60). All MDOT

maintained roads are classified as federal aid roads.

Total miles of MDOT maintained roads within Berrien County: 333

0.0%

7.1%

56.2%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

13.3%

79.3%

81.7%

100.0%

55.5%

81.9%

0.0%

92.9%

43.8%

18.6%

0.0%

0.0%

86.7%

20.7%

15.1%

43.8%

18.1%

0.0%

81.4%

95.6%

100.0%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Baroda

Benton Harbor

Berrien Springs

Bridgman

Buchanan

Coloma

Eau Claire

Galien

New Buffalo

Niles

Shoreham

St Joseph

Stevensville

Three Oaks

Watervliet

Poor Fair Good


13

PASER Asphalt Rating Chart

Surface Rating Visible Distress * General Condition/

Treatment Measures

10 None New construction.

9 None Recent overlay; like new.

8 No longitudinal cracks except reflection of paving joints.

Occasional transverse cracks, widely spaced (40’ or greater).

Recent sealcoat or new road mix. Little or no maintenance required.

7

Very slight or no raveling, surface shows some traffic wear.

Longitudinal cracks (open ¼”) due to reflection or paving joints.

Transverse cracks (open ¼”) spaced 10 feet or more apart, little or slight crack raveling.

No patching or very few patches in excellent condition.

First signs of aging. Maintain with routine crack filling.

6

Slight raveling (loss of lines) and traffic wear.

Longitudinal cracks (open ¼” – ½”) due to reflection and paving joints.

Transverse cracking (open ¼” to ½”) some spaced less than 10 ft.

First sign of block cracking Slight to moderate flushing or polishing.

Shows signs of aging, sound structural condition. Could extend life with sealcoat.

5

Moderate to severe raveling (loss of fine and coarse aggregate).

Longitudinal and transverse cracks (open ½”) show first signs of slight raveling and secondary cracks.

Block cracking up to 50% of surface.

Extensive to severe flushing or polishing.

Some patching or edge wedging in good condition.

Surface aging, sound structural condition. Needs sealcoat or nonstructural overlay.

4

Severe surface raveling.

Multiple longitudinal and transverse cracking with slight ravelling.

Longitudinal cracking in wheel path.

Block cracking (over 50% of surface).

Patching in fair condition.

Slight rutting or distortions (½” deep or less).

Significant aging and first signs of need for strengthening. Would benefit from recycling or overlay.

3

Closely spaced longitudinal and transverse cracks often showing raveling and crack erosion.

Severe block cracking.

Some alligator cracking (less than 25 % of surface).

Patches in fair to poor condition.

Moderate rutting or distortion (1” or 2” deep).

Occasional potholes.

Needs patching and major overlay or complete recycling.

2

Alligator cracking (over 25 % of surface).

Severe distortions (over 2” deep).

Extensive patching in poor condition.

Potholes.

Severe deterioration. Needs reconstruction with extensive base repair.

1 Severe distress with extensive loss of surface integrity. Failed. Needs total reconstruction.

* Note: Individual pavements will not have all of the types of distress listed for any particular rating. They may have only one or two types.


14

PASER Concrete Rating Chart

Surface Rating

Visible Distress* General Condition/

Treatment Measures

10 None New construction.

9 Traffic wear in wheel path.

Slight map cracking or pop-outs.

Recent concrete overlay or joint rehabilitation, like new

8

Pop-outs, map cracking, or minor surface defects.

Slight surface scaling.

Partial loss of joint sealant.

Isolated meander cracks and cracks at manholes, well-sealed.

More surface wear or slight defects. Recent asphalt overlay. Little or no maintenance required.

7

More extensive surface scaling.

Some open joints.

Isolated transverse or longitudinal cracks, tight or well-sealed.

Some manhole displacement and cracking.

First utility patch, in good condition.

First noticeable settlement or heave area.

First sign of transverse cracks (all tight) or utility patch. More extensive surface scaling. Seal open joints and other routine maintenance.

6

Moderate scaling in several locations.

A few isolated surface spalls.

Shallow reinforcement causing cracks.

Several corner cracks, tight or well-sealed.

Open (¼” wide) longitudinal or transverse joints and more frequent transverse cracks (some open ¼”).

First signs of shallow reinforcement or corner cracking. Needs general joint and crack sealing. Scaled areas could be overlaid.

5

Moderate to severe polishing or scaling over 25% of the surface.

High reinforcing steel causing surface spalling.

Some joints and cracks have begun spalling.

First signs of joint or crack faulting (1/4”).

Multiple corner cracks with broken pieces.

Moderate settlement or frost heave areas.

First signs of joint or crack spalling or faulting. Grind to repair surface defects. Some partial depth joint repairs needed.

4

Severe polishing, scaling, map cracking or spalling, > 50% of area

Joints and cracks show moderate to severe spalling.

Pumping and faulting of joints (1/2”) with fair ride.

Several slabs have multiple transverse or meander cracks with moderate spalling. Spalled area broken into several pieces.

Corner cracks with missing pieces or patches

Needs some full depth repairs, grinding, and/or asphalt overlay to correct surface defects.

3

Most joints and cracks are open, with multiple parallel cracks, severe spalling or faulting.

D-cracking is evident.

Severe faulting (1”) giving poor ride.

Extensive patching in fair to poor condition.

Many transverse and meander cracks, open and severely spalled.

Needs extensive full depth patching plus some full slab replacement.

2

Extensive slab cracking, severely spalled and patched.

Joints failed.

Patching in very poor condition.

Severe and extensive settlements or front heaves.

Recycle and/or rebuild pavement.

1

Restricted speed.

Extensive potholes.

Almost total loss of pavement integrity.

Total reconstruction.

* Note: Individual pavements will not have all of the types of distress listed for any particular rating. They may

have only one or two types.

Documents

2019 Pavement Condition Report For Berrien County, Michigan · Berrien County 2019 Pavement Condition Report 2 Overview of the PASER Rating System Each year, the Southwest Michigan