PURPOSES: This study determined the optimal usage rate of RAP (reclaimed asphalt pavement) using cold central-plant recycling (CCPR) on a road-surface layer. In addition, a mixture-aggregate gradation design and a curing method based on the proposed rate for the surface-layer mix design were proposed. METHODS: First, current research trends were investigated by analyzing the optimum moisture content, mix design, and quality standards for surface layers in Korea and abroad. To analyze the aggregate characteristics of the RAP, its aggregate-size characteristics were analyzed through the combustion asphalt content test and the aggregate sieve analysis test. Moreover, aggregate-segregation experiments were performed to examine the possibility of RAP aggregate segregation from field compaction and vehicle traffic. After confirming the RAP quality standards, coarse aggregate and fine aggregate, aggregate-gradation design and quality tests were conducted for mixtures with 40% and 50% RAP usage. The optimum moisture content of the surface-layer mixture containing RAP was tested, as was the evapotranspiration effect on the surface-layer mixture of the optimum moisture content. RESULTS: After analyzing the RAP recycled aggregate size and extraction aggregate size, 13-8mm aggregate was found to be mostly 8mm aggregate after combustion. After using surface-chipping and mixing methods to examine the possibility of RAP aggregate segregation, it was found that the mixing method contributed very little for 3.32%, and because the surface-chipping method applied compaction energy directly as the maximum assumption the separation ratio was 15.46%. However, the composite aggregate gradation did not change. Using a 40% RAP aggregate rate on the surface-layer mixture for cold central-plant recycling satisfied the Abroad quality standard. The optimum moisture content of the surface-layer mixture was found to be 7.9% using the modified Marshall compaction test. It was found that the mixture was over 90% cured after curing at 60℃ for two days. CONCLUSIONS : To use the cold central-plant recycling mixture on a road-surface layer, a mixture-aggregate gradation design was proposed as the RAP recycled aggregate size without considering aggregate segregation, and the RAP optimal usage rate was 40%. In addition, the modified Marshall compaction test was used to determine the optimum moisture content as a mix-design parameter, and the curing method was adapted using the method recommended by Asphalt Recycling & Reclaiming Association (ARRA).