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To maximize an owner's budget, a detailed set of plans and specifications must be developed. Owners should avoid accepting lump sum proposals, as they provide no flexibility in making adjustments in the field based on conditions encountered or changes in budgets. The scope of work must be clearly defined in the specifications, utilizing industry standards for materials and installation.

The rehabilitation plan must show limits of the work and any applicable pavement design cross-sections to support information contained in the specifications. The proposal form should reflect the scope of work with applicable pay quantities and units of measurement that will be used. The detailed proposal form allows owners to select the most responsible bidder, which is not always the lowest bidder.

Track Maintenance & Rehab
An often overlooked aspect of the PMP is creating a document, updated annually, that quantifies the location of the work that was completed and a detailed cost of the work.

This document when contrasted with the proposed work defined within the PMP will underscore the accuracy of the original budget and serve as a tool when updating future budgets. Over the long term it will also benefit the owner in calculating the life cycle costs of the work that has been performed.

Contractor-initiated PMPs
The benefit of a well-executed PMP is that the serviceable life of a properly constructed pavement can be extended beyond its anticipated life cycle. The total expenditures on the pavement will be significantly less in a proactive approach, and the serviceability of the pavement will be better. The owner will place a high value on a pavement that is safer, has less maintenance downtime, and is more aesthetically pleasing.