THE ECONOMICS OF ROAD MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS STANDARDS

This discussion note indicates that the objectives of road maintenance are to preserve the road system to provide the designed service to the road user at optimum cost. Routine and specific maintenance are defined and it is shown that a decrease in specific maintenance will result in an increase in routine maintenance costs. In order to make an informed judgement on the optimum maintenance budget it is necessary to know the extent and condition of the road system. The A.C.T. Region of the Department of Housing and Construction's road maintenance and improvements system is briefly described and various factors are set out which need to be satisfied before a maintenance programme can be successfully determined. Research is necessary to refine these factors. It is concluded that road maintenance and improvements standards should be developed so that the limited roads funds are equitably distributed (a). (TRRL)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Workshop on the Economics of Road Design Standards, Canberra, 18-20 May 1980 Papers.
• Corporate Authors:

  Bureau of Transport Economics, Australia

  Allara Street
  Canberra City, A.C.T. 2601,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • Shepherd, B J
• Publication Date: 1980-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 7 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Conferences; Economics; Highway maintenance; Highways; Improvements; Maintenance; Maintenance management; Socioeconomic factors; Standards
• Uncontrolled Terms: Maintenance costs
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ITRD Terms: 8006: Australia; 8525: Conference; 255: Economics; 2755: Highway; 9108: Improvement; 3847: Maintenance; 187: Specification (standard)
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Society; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00329646
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 21 1981 12:00AM