A procedure is developed by which the likelihood of delamination of bonded concrete overlays on continuously reinforced concrete pavements is reduced. The procedure compares the early age interface stress to the expected interface bond strength for a variety of environmental conditions. When the calculated stress exceeds the expected strength, it is recommended that overlay placement be curtailed until the possibility of debonding is reduced. A finite element method program is used to determine the early age stresses resulting from temperature and shrinkage induced volume changes. Stresses were determined for a variety of environmental and material combinations and overlay thicknesses. Analyses show that a significant reduction in stress results from the use of overlay materials which have a lower modulus and thermal coefficient than those of the existing slab. The stresses for a given combination of materials and environmental conditions are compared to the interface bond strength at early ages. Early age interface shear and tensile strengths are estimated from 7-day strength test results. The estimated strength, together with the variability of the interface strength, are used to calculate the likelihood of delamination for a given type of overlay and time of placement. This likelihood can be reduced through the selection of a different overlay material or time of placement.