Raleigh Extends Street Life with 2025 Rejuvenation Program

A Smart Investment for Raleigh

Normally, a street without any care lasts about 25 years. After that, resurfacing is often needed—and that can cost up to $40 per square yard. Pavement rejuvenation, on the other hand, costs only a few dollars per square yard. In 2025, Raleigh will treat 21.7 miles of roadway, up from 16.2 miles in 2024.

“We’re stretching our budget by preserving good-condition streets with rejuvenation and saving major resurfacing work for roads that really need it,” Griffin explained.

The treatment is sprayed on with a Distributor truck and usually dries in less than an hour. Because it soaks into the road instead of just coating the top, it makes the asphalt more flexible and less likely to crack. Most streets are done in under a day, which helps limit traffic delays.

More Than Maintenance: Environmental and Community Benefits

Raleigh’s current rejuvenator includes a titanium additive with some unique environmental perks. On-going research from Purdue University shows that treated roads can:

• Reflect more sunlight than untreated asphalt, reducing heat in the city. Treated streets showed up to a 300% increase in reflectivity.
• Break down harmful gases like nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, thanks to titanium dioxide reacting with sunlight.
• Possibly reduce microplastics on road surfaces—something researchers are still studying.

“These are benefits you don’t usually think of with road work,” said Griffin. “But this shows how the program helps both our community and the environment.”

The process also gives off fewer emissions than regular paving since it doesn’t use new rock or sand. The product itself is a byproduct of gasoline refining, so it reuses material that would otherwise go to waste.

How to Spot a Treated Street

Right after treatment, a street may look a bit darker. Over time, it blends back in with the surrounding pavement. Most people walking or biking won’t notice much of a difference, but the results last for years.

“If we didn’t do this, streets would wear out much faster,” said Griffin. “That would mean more potholes, more repairs, and more traffic headaches. Pavement rejuvenation helps us avoid all that—for just a fraction of the cost.”

What's Next

The 2025 contract was finalized earlier this year, and crews began work this month. The project should take about 30 to 45 days, depending on weather. The City chooses streets based on condition ratings, updated every two years. While the program doesn’t target specific neighborhoods, many streets in lower-rated areas are repaired first and then treated later.

Want to know if your street is included? View the complete 2025 treatment list.