LIFE CYCLE COST OF URBAN PAVEMENTS

A cost comparison between different methods of pavement construction needs to be based on the current value of initial construction, ordinary maintenance costs, and costs of reconstructing the pavement during its estimated life. The estimated pavement life depends on many factors. This article presents a case study of pavements in Buenos Aires, Argentina, through a 50-year service life. Almost 90% of the city streets are 9-11m wide and use mainly two different types of asphalt pavement and one type of concrete pavement. For each of these pavement types, graphs show: (1) the cash flow during service life; (2) the increase of paved surface per year of lifetime; and (3) the total surface area of new pavement per year of lifetime. The financial efficiency of the three pavement types is discussed. Due to their higher reflectivity, concrete pavements require less energy for street lighting than asphalt pavements. A simple calculation is made of the energy consumption and cost per m of asphalt and concrete pavement. Although asphalt has lower initial construction costs than concrete, concrete is the best alternative from a life-cycle perspective. On a fixed-budget basis, cities choosing concrete pavements, unlike those choosing asphalt pavements, can afford to expand their road networks continually.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/14605856
• Corporate Authors:

  Palladian Publications Limited

  15 South Street
  Farnham Surrey GU97QU,   United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • BECKER, E A
  • DI PACE, G D
• Publication Date: 1999-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 26-8
• Serial:
  • CONCRETE ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: THE CONCRETE SOCIETY
  • ISSN: 1460-5856

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bitumen; Concrete; Construction; Costs; Durability; Economic efficiency; Energy conservation; Maintenance; Methodology; Pavements; Reflectivity; Reinforced concrete; Repairing; Street lighting; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency
• Geographic Terms: Argentina
• ITRD Terms: 8004: Argentina; 4963: Bitumen; 4755: Concrete; 3655: Construction; 224: Cost; 5910: Durability; 5911: Efficiency; 212: Energy conservation; 545: Lighting (street); 3847: Maintenance; 9102: Method; 2955: Pavement; 5926: Reflectivity; 4794: Reinforced concrete; 3635: Repair; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Construction; Economics; Energy; Environment; Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00767106
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Aug 6 1999 12:00AM