THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIGHTLY TRAFFICKED ROADS IN FRANCE

Lightly trafficked roads represent a substantial proportion of the road network in France. Lower standards than those applicable to heavily trafficked roads should be acceptable for these roads. The present design of roads carrying between 200 and 700 vehicles a day in France requires the use of the same high quality materials as for more heavily trafficked roads except that surface dressings are permitted for the weaping course. Those requirements are probably too stringent because the percentage of heavy vehicles in the total volume of traffic is smaller for lightly trafficked roads than that for more heavily trafficked roads. Results from the AASHO Road Test are used to show that a reduced thickness of bitumen-bound bases is adequate for lightly trafficked roads. For these roads, local materials which are unsuitable for heavily trafficked roads are recommended to reduce construction costs. Practical examples of the use of local materials in France are given; in particular, hot sand mix made with hard bitumen and emulsion stabilized gravel are being increasingly employed for this purpose. Flexible construction is preperred because relatively thin layers are adequate for these roads and semi-rigid construction is therefore uneconomic.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00373516
• Corporate Authors:

  Shell International Petroleum Company Limited

  Shell Center
  London SE1 7NA,   England 
• Authors:
  • Desvignes, R
• Publication Date: 1973

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 2-5
• Serial:
  • Shell Bitumen Review
  • Issue Number: 42
  • Publisher: Shell International Petroleum Company Limited
  • ISSN: 0037-3516

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bituminous bases; Construction; Costs; Emulsions; Flexible pavements; Gravel; Heavy vehicles; Hot mix asphalt; Local materials; Pavement design; Pavements; Road construction; Sand; Thickness; Traffic volume
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction costs; Pavement thickness
• ITRD Terms: 6278: AASHO road test; 4963: Bitumen; 4993: Bitumen emulsion; 2944: Flexible pavement; 8036: France; 4575: Gravel; 3055: Pavement design; 2961: Roadbase; 4105: Sand; 5933: Thickness; 671: Traffic flow
• Subject Areas: Construction; Finance; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00080711
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 26 2003 12:00AM