The more we invest now, the more we save later, and the better experience we provide to everyone who lives, works, or visits Hastings.”

City Engineer Cody Matheson

At their April 3 morning meeting, members of the Hastings Area Rotary Club were treated to an inside look at how the City of Hastings makes decisions about the roads we all drive, walk, and bike on daily. City Engineer Cody Matheson gave a detailed presentation explaining the strategy, science, and sometimes the difficult decisions behind the city’s pavement management program. While he admitted that pavement might not be the most electrifying topic for a breakfast meeting, Matheson’s talk was both informative and, at times, surprisingly entertaining.
“Pavement management is really about making smart investments at the right time,” Matheson began. “When we do that well, we improve safety, reduce long-term costs, and provide a better experience for everyone.”
The scope of Hastings’ streets
The city maintains 105 miles of local roads, not including county or state highways. Add in those additional roads, and the total jumps to about 125 miles. If all local roads needed to be replaced today, the bill would be in the neighborhood of $200 million. That number, Matheson stressed, is why it’s crucial to extend the life of roads through well-timed treatments, rather than wait until they fail completely.
To guide decisions, Hastings uses the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), a standardized scale ranging from 0 to 100. About a third of the city’s roads are rated each year. Ratings are based on various factors such as age, type and severity of cracks, base failures, and the history of past treatments.
“There’s some subjectivity involved,” Matheson said. “A road might look like a 55 to one person and a 59 to another. That’s why consistency in who does the rating is key, and yes, we tell our raters to have their coffee first, because mood can matter.”
The city is also keeping an eye on the evolution of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), which can analyze roads using vehicle-mounted imaging systems. While these systems offer consistency and efficiency, they still can’t replace the human touch, particularly when it comes to understanding what’s happening beneath the surface.
Reading the Road Map
So, what does the data tell us about Hastings’ road network? The city’s target PCI is 70 to 75, a solid “C” on the grading scale, as Matheson put it.
“Would we all love to see our roads rated at 90 or above? Sure,” he said. “But realistically, that’s not the best use of taxpayer dollars. We’re aiming for roads that are generally smooth, safe, and structurally sound.”
Thanks to recent investments by the city council and diligent work by city staff, Hastings has made significant progress. In 2021, the city’s average PCI was 66. As of 2024, it climbed to 70. Just as importantly, the number of roads in poor condition (rated below 40) has dropped from 9% in 2009 to just 2% today.
“That didn’t happen by accident,” Matheson said. “It’s the result of consistent investment and a thoughtful, strategic approach.”
So why that street and not mine?
One of the most common questions the city hears is: Why is this street being repaired and not mine?
There are several answers. First, of course, is the road’s rating. But other factors play a role, such as traffic volume, the condition of underground utilities, and the efficiency of grouping projects by geography.
“Think of it like painting your house,” Matheson explained. “You wouldn’t paint one wall downstairs, then go upstairs and do a random wall there. You want to do a whole room or floor at once. It’s more efficient in terms of time, money, and equipment.”
Past treatments also factor into the equation. Roads that have had thin overlays may look better on the surface than they actually are underneath. This history is taken into account when deciding which roads to tackle next.
Then there’s synchronization with other projects, both within the city and with outside agencies like the county, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, or even local schools. Sometimes a road project needs to align with a water main replacement or a larger transportation initiative. These overlapping timelines often determine when a project moves forward.
Choosing the right treatment
Hastings uses several types of treatments depending on the road’s condition:
• Reconstruction: A complete rebuild of the road, including new base, curbs, and pavement.
• Reclamation: Reuse of the existing materials by grinding and mixing them into a new base layer.
• Mill and Overlay: Removal of the top layer of pavement and application of a new one.
• Thin Overlay: A cost-effective, in-house treatment that extends a road’s life by 7–10 years.
These treatments vary in cost and longevity, and not every road is a candidate for every method. For example, a structurally failing road can’t simply be overlaid, it needs a full reconstruction.
“We can’t just keep painting a rotten fence,” Matheson said. “There’s a time and place for each type of treatment, and matching the right one to the right road is where the strategy comes in.”
Planning for the future
The city isn’t flying by the seat of its pants when it comes to road planning. In fact, Hastings has a detailed five-year capital improvement plan (CIP) outlining which streets will be worked on and when. There are separate CIPs for reconstruction and for mill and overlay projects, and they’re constantly being refined.
One standout success has been the city’s thin overlay program, performed by Public Works staff. In 2024 alone, nearly three miles of roads were improved in-house for about $350,000. While that’s not a small sum, it’s a cost-effective way to buy time until a full project can be scheduled.
“Doing this work in-house gives us flexibility and saves money,” Matheson said. “Instead of patching potholes every week and wasting staff time and materials, we give residents a better driving experience while staying ahead of the curve.”
Looking ahead
As the presentation wrapped up, Matheson fielded questions ranging from the use of AI in road assessments to advances in materials. He acknowledged that road construction is a slow-moving industry but noted that Hastings has adopted better oils and techniques over the past decade that are already showing longer-lasting results.
Ultimately, the city’s pavement management program is a balance of engineering, economics, and timing.
“Preventative maintenance isn’t glamorous, but it works,” Matheson concluded. “The more we invest now, the more we save later, and the better experience we provide to everyone who lives, works, or visits Hastings.”
If you’ve ever wondered why your street isn’t next on the list, now you know, it’s all part of a bigger picture designed to keep Hastings’ roads smooth, safe, and smartly managed for years to come.