As agencies across the country work to do more with limited budgets, pavement preservation has become a critical strategy for extending roadway life and maintaining performance. The right treatment applied to the right road at the right time can deliver measurable savings, improve safety and minimize disruption to the traveling public.
Nominated by Ergon in late 2025, three agencies — the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and the City of Starkville, Mississippi — earned national recognition for their work in advancing pavement preservation. Though their challenges and approaches differ, each demonstrates how thoughtful planning and execution can produce lasting results.
NMDOT: A Long-Term Commitment to Delivering Results
NMDOT received the 2026 ISSA Pavement Preservation & Sustainability Award for their sustained use of preservation technologies as part of a broader network strategy. Guided by their mission, “Mobility for Everyone,” the agency has built a program focused on efficiency, consistency and statewide impact.
A cornerstone of that effort is NMDOT’s in-house chip sealing program, which prioritizes secondary and rural roads. These roadways often see the greatest benefit from cost-effective treatments, and NMDOT’s approach reflects that reality. Treating roughly 1,000 miles each year, the agency estimates savings of approximately $18,000 per lane mile due to the in-house nature of its chip seal program.
NMDOT’s continued success is the result of nearly four decades of commitment to pavement preservation. The agency continues to share best practices at industry conferences and reinforces quality through internal initiatives such as their annual Chip Seal Quality Awards.
“Their passion for their program is inspiring. NMDOT’s commitment to going the extra mile has set the standard for how an agency can serve local communities in cost-efficient, unobtrusive ways.” – Mo Rahman, P.E., Technical Marketing Manager – Pacific West for Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions (Ergon A&E)
ALDOT: Extending Service Life Through Innovation
ALDOT earned the 2026 ISSA Preservation Performance Award for their use of highly modified micro surfacing to extend pavement life on the heavily trafficked Interstate 59.
The agency first explored this approach in 2017 with a demonstration project — the first application of highly modified micro surfacing on an interstate in Alabama. After confirming its effectiveness, ALDOT expanded the treatment to additional roadways, including 18 miles of oxidized and raveled pavement along Interstate 59 in 2024.
Across these applications, the results have been consistent, with ALDOT maintaining good surface friction while increasing the expected service life of treated roadways by 7 to 9 years at minimum. These extended lifecycles translate directly into cost savings and allow the agency to reinvest in additional preservation efforts across their network.
“The ALDOT team is always looking to innovate, keep roads in good condition and keep drivers safe. They look ahead, and there’s a real commitment to pavement preservation in everything they do.” – Matt Jeffers, Technical Marketing Manager – Ergon A&E
Starkville: Building a Citywide Program From the Ground Up
The City of Starkville has shown that even new programs can deliver significant results when backed by data-driven plans. In 2026, Starkville earned both the AEMA Past Presidents’ Award for Emulsion Excellence and the ISSA Excellence in Pavement Preservation Award.
Before launching their program, Starkville took a deliberate, research-centered approach to the early stages of planning. City leaders visited other Mississippi communities with established preservation programs and partnered with a consulting firm to assess their entire roadway network. That upfront investment shaped a strategy designed for long-term success.
In 2024, Starkville treated 31.3 lane miles using treatments such as highly modified micro surfacing, rejuvenating scrub seals, crack seals and fog seals. The city expanded those efforts in 2025, continuing to utilize pavement preservation techniques to add an estimated 379 lane-mile-years to their network.
“We’re excited, not only for the results we’ve already seen, but about the future, too. Our teams see a lot of potential when it comes to the pavement preservation program. It’s going to set us up for a lot of success when it comes to cutting costs while still maintaining quality.” – Cody Burnett, P.E., City of Starkville City Engineer.
Starkville also placed a strong emphasis on communication within the community. Residents were kept informed through a dedicated webpage, letters, social media updates, press releases, yard signs with QR codes to the webpage, door hangers and a mass notification system. This level of transparency helped set expectations and build public support for ongoing work.
“Starkville has set the standard for a pavement preservation program. They recognized they had a need and understood the benefits of looking at the network as a whole. What makes Starkville unique is their extensive communication to the community on why road work is being done and what they should expect during the project — they’re the perfect example of a pavement preservation program done right.” – Amy Walker, Ergon A&E Area Sales Manager.
A Shared Approach to Lasting Success
While each agency’s strategy is tailored to their specific needs, a common pattern emerges — successful pavement preservation programs are proactive, communicative, data-driven and systematically implemented.
NMDOT continually demonstrates the value of long-term commitment and statewide coordination, while ALDOT highlights how innovation can extend service life and maximize investment. In Starkville, diligent planning and community engagement show how even a newer program can accelerate success.
Together, these examples illustrate what’s possible when agencies take a strategic approach to preservation. Agencies can get more life out of their roads, improve safety and deliver real value to the communities they serve. For teams facing the challenging combination of aging infrastructure, increased public expectations and effectively shrinking budgets, these award-winning agencies show what can be accomplished when you trade reactive repairs for proactive planning.
Learn more about how award-winning agencies use Ergon’s solutions here.
