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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

The effect of climate change on the routine and periodic maintenance of roads

Ilmastonmuutoksen vaikutus tieston hoitoon ja yllapitoon

In Finland, the average temperature is estimated to increase over 2?C and the rainfall by 5-10% by the year 2040. Both the rising of the temperature and the increase of the rainfall are more intense during the winter than the summer. The thermal and snow-covered winter is going to shorten and the number of days with above +25?C in summertime is going to increase. The frost depth is going to decrease significantly by the end of the century. The objective of this study has been to find out how the climate change is affecting the routine and periodic maintenance of roads and also to assess the expenses of these effects. Further, the objective is to present necessary changes to maintenance guidelines policies. The results are based on a literature research, analyzes of the effects of two warm winters (2006-2007 and 2007-2008) and expert estimations. The winter maintenance procedures applied in Southern Finland are being transferred to the more northern parts of Finland all the time. The winter storms are becoming more common which increases the need of capacity of the short-range snow removal, but in all, the number of snow removals stays the same or decreases while the winters are getting shorter. The need for de-icing is increasing in the Middle and North Finland. The need for salting is apparently going to decrease only after the middle of the ongoing century. The winter maintenance policies have just been revised and there's no need to change them at the moment. Because of the climate change, the winter maintenance costs are going to increase slightly. During wintertime, bare road surfaces are becoming more common especially in the winter maintenance class Ib. Warm and rainy winters accelerate the rutting of pavements. The increasing frosting-defrosting cycles increase pavement wear and the pavement defects are increasing. Due to increasing rainfall, the groundwater table will rise, which reduces the load carrying capacity of low volume roads and accelerates the increase of ridge height in the minor road network. It is estimated that by the end of the five-year planning period, the maintenance costs will increase by 10-20 million Ç if the forthcoming winters are mild and wet. Nevertheless, there's no direct need to change the pavement guidelines or policies but it is necessary to analyze the condition of the road network continually. The increasing rains and mild winters are complicating structural thaw weakening. The recommendations given in the new maintenance policies for gravel roads are strongly advisable also for eliminating the effects of climate change. Because of the climate change, the maintenance costs are going to increase by 5-10 million Ç by the end of the next decade. When planning new roads and bridges, one has to prepare for the increase of the erosion and flood risks caused by increasing rains and flows of water. This report may be found at http://alk.tiehallinto.fi/julkaisut/pdf2/3201122-v-ilmastonmuutoksen_vaikutus_kunnossapitoon.pdf

Language

  • Finnish

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01137308
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: TRL
  • ISBN: 978-952-221-172-9
  • Files: ITRD
  • Created Date: Jul 30 2009 11:40AM