<p>COLUMBIA — The City of Columbia is moving forward with a comprehensive Pavement Management and Preservation Program aimed at improving road conditions across all 235 centerline miles of city roadway, according to a city announcement. The initiative pairs Columbia with engineering firm Alfred Benesch and Company and its subconsultant Citylogix to collect high-resolution roadway data and build a long-term maintenance strategy.</p><p>The program uses advanced imaging, LiDAR scanning, and 360-degree high-definition data collection to assess pavement conditions with precision. Mayor Chaz Molder said the effort is about putting the right tools in place to make informed decisions that will benefit Columbia for years to come, while City Manager Tony Massey noted the data will allow the city to prioritize projects more effectively and extend the life of the roadway system. Data collection was scheduled to begin in April.</p><p>The plan will also produce standardized specifications for future projects, community education materials, and budget scenarios — giving taxpayers a clearer picture of how road dollars are being spent. For a city growing as fast as the Columbia area is, getting ahead of infrastructure wear is exactly the kind of fiscal discipline residents deserve from their local government.</p>