Framework for selecting pavement type for low volume roads
H.R. Pasindu, Deshan Gamage, J.M.S.J. Bandara
Abstract
Low volume roads form a vital link in the road network which provides accessibility to the communities to meet their social and economic needs. One of the main issues faced by the authorities managing the low volume roads which is the lack of funding, technical and human resources to maintain the road network. One of the main reasons for insufficient fund availability to maintain the road network is the poor selection of pavement type during road construction. Selection of an appropriate pavement type should consider the expected traffic levels, terrain and ground conditions and should also give consideration to the socio-environmental factors relevant to the area such as land use, economic activities, noise and dust generation, connectivity etc. If this is not carried out properly, the invested would not yield maximum benefits to the community. The study proposes a framework to select pavement types for low volume roads considering traffic, social, environmental characteristics. Several attributes were identified which should be incorporated when selecting a pavement type for a low volume road. These are, traffic volume, traffic composition, land use, connectivity, terrain and weather. Five different pavement types were assessed under life cycle cost, maintenance requirements and road user experience to evaluate which pavement types were most appropriate for the different combinations of attributes, which represent the transport, socio-environmental characteristics present at different road segments. The proposed framework provides a useful tool for planning level decision making for local highway agency for pavement type selection for a low volume road network.