Consultants report Lake Havasu road network PCI at 64; engineers recommend preservation strategy

Nichols Consulting Engineers presented the results of a pavement condition index (PCI) study to the Lake Havasu City Council, reporting a citywide PCI of about 64 and recommending a preservation‑focused investment strategy.

Consultant Vivek Jha described an automated collection protocol that samples every 50 feet of city centerline mileage (roughly 432 centerline miles measured) using lidar, high‑resolution cameras and algorithms to identify cracking and distresses. PCI uses a 0–100 scale (ASTM standard); consultants said a 64 PCI indicates a large share of pavement in the fair/good range and advised emphasizing early, low‑cost preservation treatments on fair segments to avoid expensive reconstruction later.

Jha demonstrated StreetSaver software and explained that the next phase will build a decision tree that links PCI ranges to recommended treatments and cost estimates; the analysis can produce budget scenarios showing the cost to maintain or raise the average PCI over a 10‑year horizon. Council members asked about lane miles vs. centerline miles and the frequency of updates; staff said data collection could be refreshed on a roughly 6–8 year cycle with interim checks.

Public works staff said the PCI will inform next year’s budget priorities and help reduce deferred maintenance costs by targeting preservation work earlier in a pavement’s lifecycle.