ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF UPGRADING LOW-VOLUME ROADS

In many countries, particularly in the developing world, a large percentage of the road network is made up of gravel roads. Although such roads are suitable for low traffic volumes, many countries have had rapid increases in traffic levels. This process has resulted in large expenditure on maintenance and rehabilitation of gravel roads as well as high costs of vehicle operation. At high traffic levels, it is therefore desirable to upgrade such roads with bitumen or asphalt pavements to reduce total costs. A computer package incorporating the World Bank Highway Design and Maintenance Standards Model (HDM-III) has been developed to determine the traffic levels at which it becomes economical to upgrade road pavements. Depending on the level of accuracy required, the computer package may be used to give approximate or detailed results. At the simplest operation level, only a few data variables are required to accomplish a quick analysis giving approximate results. A graphical plot of the total costs is displayed on the computer screen showing the crossover point at which upgrading becomes viable.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1991/1291vol1/1291-004.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=ECONOMIC+VIABILITY+OF+UPGRADING+LOW-VOLUME+ROADS&author=H.+Kerali&author=M.+Snaith&author=R.+Koole&publication_year=1991
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/030905715
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1291, Fifth International Conference on Low-Volume Roads, May 19-23, 1991, Raleigh, North Carolina, Volume 1. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Kerali, H R
  • Snaith, M S
  • Koole, R C
• Conference:
  • International Conference on Low-Volume Roads, 5th, 1991, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
• Publication Date: 1991

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 34-40
• Monograph Title: Fifth International Conference on Low-Volume Roads May 19-23 1991, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; volumes 1 and 2
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1291
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer programs; Conferences; Developing countries; Economic analysis; Gravel roads; Low volume roads; Microcomputers; Modernization
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Society; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00611742
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 030905715
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 31 1991 12:00AM