IMPACT OF STREAM DEGRADATION ON BRIDGES AND RURAL TRAVEL PATTERNS

Stream degradation has resulted in significant damage to rural roads and bridges in several areas of the United States. Western Iowa is one region that has been severely affected. In the beginning of the 20th century, many streams throughout Iowa were channelized to reduce flooding and to open more land to farming. Channel straightening accomplished its goal, but led to greater stream flow velocities, causing degradation on stream channels. This widening and deepening of streams resulted in damage to rural roads and bridges. This study evaluates the effects of stream degradation on county bridges and rural travel patterns in western Iowa. A conceptual model for measuring the benefits and costs of reconstructing, maintaining, or closing county bridges is presented, and a budget constraint model is constructed to show how limited funds might be distributed among various bridge projects. This model will be compared with the benefit-cost analysis based on net benefits and the benefit-cost ratio method of allocating funds.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1995/1498/1498-013.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=IMPACT+OF+STREAM+DEGRADATION+ON+BRIDGES+AND+RURAL+TRAVEL+PATTERNS&author=X.+Yang&author=M.+McVey&author=L.+Morris&author=C.+Baumel&publication_year=1995
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309061628
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1498, Transportation Finance, Training, Strategic Management, and Economic Analysis. 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:
  • Yang, Xing
  • McVey, Marty J
  • Morris, Landon L
  • Baumel, C Phillip
• Publication Date: 1995

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 82-91
• Monograph Title: Transportation finance, training, strategic management, and economic analysis
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1498
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abandonment; Benefit cost analysis; Bridges; Budgeting; Channels (Waterways); Constraints; Loss and damage; Maintenance; Mathematical models; Reconstruction; Rural highways; Streams
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge maintenance; Damages; Degradation; Fund allocations; Stream channels
• Geographic Terms: Iowa
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Economics; Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Society; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00714968
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309061628
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 21 1995 12:00AM