FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

PROGRAMME : BACHELOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING (BCET5)

SUBMITTED TO : Eng. T. MSUKWA

SUBMITTED BY : BRIAN TRAPENCE

REG. NUMBER : BCET/17/SS/015

MODULE TITLE : Highway Maintenance

ASSIGN. TITLE : Impacts of Activities on Pavements and Shoulders

on The Road Network

DUE DATE : October 18, 2024

 Impacts of Activities on Pavements and Shoulders on The Road Network
Activities on pavements and shoulders can be defined under the headings of ‘operations’,
‘maintenance’, ‘renewal’, ‘development’ and ‘disposal’. Operations are management
activities, maintenance, renewal and development are works activities. (Transport Research
Laboratory, 2001). In this paper emphasis will be made on how each of these activities
impact:

 Level of service or road condition

 National development and social economic issues
 Road user costs
 Accident levels and costs
 Environmental degradation
 Road administration costs

Operations

Operations related to road pavements and shoulders including; network management (e.g.,
strategic planning, programming, design, procurement, operations management),
administration (e.g., finance and accounts, personnel management), facilities management
(e.g., toll collection, maintenance of depots) and policing (e.g., speed enforcement, axle load
control) impact the stated aspects of the transportation system in the following way:

Level of service: Effective network management and administration can improve traffic flow,
reduce congestion, and enhance road users' experience. According to a report by the National
Cooperative Highway Research Program, effective network management and incident
management can help reduce congestion and improve the overall performance of the
transportation system (NCHRP, 2014).

National development: Effective network management and facilities management are

essential for supporting economic growth and social development. According to a report by
the World Bank, efficient transport networks can help promote economic growth by reducing
transport costs and improving access to markets (World Bank, 2014).

Social-economic issues: Effective network management and policing can improve road safety
and reduce the social and economic costs of accidents. A study by the National Cooperative
Highway Research Program found that effective traffic management and enforcement can
help reduce the number and severity of accidents (NCHRP, 2012).
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Road user costs: Effective network management and facilities management can help reduce
vehicle operating costs, such as fuel consumption and travel time. According to a report by
the European Commission, well-maintained and efficient transport networks can help reduce
the overall costs of transport, including vehicle operating costs (European Commission,
2017).

Accident levels: Effective policing and incident management can help reduce the number and
severity of accidents. According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, effective enforcement can help reduce the number of alcohol-related
accidents (NHTSA, 2015).

Accident costs: Reducing accidents can result in significant cost savings, including medical
expenses, property damage, and lost productivity. A study by the National Cooperative
Highway Research Program estimated that the cost of a fatal crash on a rural road is
approximately $9.1 million, including medical costs, property damage, and lost productivity
(NCHRP, 2017).

Environmental degradation: Effective network management and facilities management can

help reduce the environmental impact of the transportation system. For example, promoting
public transportation and alternative modes of transportation can help reduce carbon
emissions. According to a report by the International Energy Agency, promoting sustainable
transport modes can help reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions (IEA, 2020).

Road maintenance costs: Effective network management and facilities management can help
reduce road maintenance costs over the long term. For example, implementing sustainable
maintenance practices can help reduce the need for frequent repairs and replacements.
According to a study by the European Commission, implementing sustainable transport
policies can help reduce the overall costs of transport, including road maintenance costs
(European Commission, 2017).

Maintenance

Road maintenance activities such as cyclic, reactive, winter, emergency, preventive,

resurfacing, and road marking have significant impacts on various aspects related to road
pavements and shoulders, including level of service, national development, social-economic
issues, road user costs, accident levels, accident costs, environmental degradation, and road
maintenance.

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Cyclic maintenance activities involve regular inspections, cleaning, and minor repairs to
prevent deterioration of the road pavement and shoulder. This type of maintenance activity
helps maintain the desired level of service by keeping the road in good condition and
reducing the need for major repairs. According to Hearn et al. (2018), cyclic maintenance
helps maintain the serviceability of the road network, which is essential for economic
development and social well-being.

Reactive maintenance activities are performed in response to identified defects, such as

potholes, cracking, and pavement failures. These activities aim to restore the road pavement
and shoulder to its original condition, reducing the negative impact on road users. According
to Sivilevičius et al. (2021), reactive maintenance activities have a significant impact on road
user costs, as poor road conditions increase vehicle operating costs and travel time.

Winter maintenance activities include snow and ice control, which are essential for
maintaining the desired level of service during winter months. This type of maintenance
activity is crucial in reducing accidents and their associated costs. According to Tarefder et
al. (2021), winter maintenance activities have a significant impact on accident levels and
costs, as icy and snow-covered roads increase the risk of accidents.

Emergency maintenance activities are performed in response to unforeseen events such as

floods, landslides, and earthquakes. These activities aim to restore the road pavement and
shoulder to a usable condition, minimizing the negative impact on road users. According to
Hearn et al. (2018), emergency maintenance activities have a significant impact on national
development, as damaged roads can disrupt trade and commerce, affecting the country's
economic growth.

Preventive maintenance activities involve planned repairs and treatments to extend the life of
the road pavement and shoulder, reducing the need for costly rehabilitation and
reconstruction. This type of maintenance activity helps maintain the desired level of service
by keeping the road in good condition. According to Tarefder et al. (2021), preventive
maintenance activities have a significant impact on road user costs, as they reduce the need
for costly vehicle repairs and maintenance.

Resurfacing maintenance activities involve the removal and replacement of the top layer of
the road pavement, improving ride quality and reducing road user costs. This type of
maintenance activity has a significant impact on the level of service and road user costs.

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According to Sivilevičius et al. (2021), resurfacing maintenance activities have a positive
impact on the environment, as they reduce the need for new construction materials.

Road marking maintenance activities involve the application of new markings or the
reapplication of existing markings to improve visibility and safety for road users. This type of
maintenance activity has a significant impact on accident levels and costs, as clear markings
reduce the risk of accidents. According to Hearn et al. (2018), road marking maintenance
activities have a positive impact on social-economic issues, as they improve the efficiency of
the road network, reducing travel time and vehicle operating costs.

Renewal

Renewal activities related to road pavements and shoulders, such as overlay and pavement
reconstruction, have significant impacts on various aspects related to road infrastructure,
including level of service, national development, social-economic issues, road user costs,
accident levels, accident costs, environmental degradation, and road maintenance.

Overlay is a renewal activity that involves placing a new layer of asphalt or concrete over the
existing road pavement. This type of renewal activity improves ride quality, reduces road
user costs, and extends the life of the road pavement. According to Kucharczyk et al. (2020),
overlay has a significant impact on level of service, as it improves ride quality, reducing
travel time and vehicle operating costs.

Pavement reconstruction involves the complete removal and replacement of the road
pavement and shoulder. This type of renewal activity is necessary when the road pavement
has reached the end of its useful life and is no longer safe or cost-effective to maintain.
According to Tarefder et al. (2021), pavement reconstruction has a significant impact on
national development, as it ensures the safety and efficiency of the road network, supporting
economic growth and social well-being.

Renewal activities also have a significant impact on social-economic issues. For example,
overlay and pavement reconstruction can create employment opportunities, stimulating local
economies. According to Cao et al. (2020), renewal activities have a positive impact on social
well-being, as they improve the accessibility and mobility of people and goods, reducing
travel time and costs.

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Renewal activities can also have a significant impact on accident levels and costs. According
to Kucharczyk et al. (2020), overlay reduces the risk of accidents by improving ride quality
and visibility, reducing accident levels and associated costs. On the other hand, pavement
reconstruction may increase accident levels temporarily, as construction activities can cause
congestion and disruption, increasing the risk of accidents.

Environmental degradation is another aspect that renewal activities can impact. According to
Tarefder et al. (2021), pavement reconstruction requires significant resources, such as energy,
water, and construction materials, which can have a negative impact on the environment.
However, renewal activities such as overlay can be more sustainable, as they use fewer
resources and produce less waste.

Development

Development activities related to road pavements and shoulders, such as widening,

realignment, and new section construction, have significant impacts on various aspects
related to road infrastructure, including level of service, national development, social-
economic issues, road user costs, accident levels, accident costs, environmental degradation,
and road maintenance.

Widening involves increasing the number of lanes on an existing road, while realignment
involves changing the road's alignment to improve safety or traffic flow. New section
construction involves building a completely new road segment. These development activities
have a significant impact on level of service, as they improve traffic flow and reduce travel
time, according to Kucharczyk et al. (2020).

National development is another aspect that development activities can impact. According to
El-Basyouny et al. (2019), widening and new section construction have a significant impact
on economic development, as they improve the accessibility and connectivity of regions,
promoting trade, investment, and job creation.

Development activities can also have a significant impact on social-economic issues. For
example, widening and realignment can improve the accessibility and mobility of people and
goods, reducing travel time and costs. According to El-Basyouny et al. (2019), development
activities have a positive impact on social well-being, as they provide safer and more efficient
transportation, enhancing access to education, healthcare, and other essential services.

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Road user costs are another aspect impacted by development activities. According to
Kucharczyk et al. (2020), widening and realignment can reduce vehicle operating costs by
improving traffic flow, reducing congestion, and lowering fuel consumption. On the other
hand, new section construction can increase road user costs initially, as it requires tolls or
other fees to finance construction costs.

Accident levels and costs are also impacted by development activities. According to El-
Basyouny et al. (2019), realignment can reduce accident levels by improving sightlines and
reducing the risk of collisions. However, new section construction may increase accident
levels initially, as it requires adjusting to a new road environment and increased traffic
volumes.

Environmental degradation is another aspect that development activities can impact.

According to Wang et al. (2019), new section construction can have a significant impact on
the environment, as it requires clearing natural habitats, changing land use patterns, and
producing construction waste. However, development activities such as widening and
realignment can be more sustainable, as they use existing road infrastructure and produce
fewer environmental impacts.

Conclusion

Operations, maintenance, renewal and development activities related to road pavements and
shoulders have significant impacts on various aspects related to road infrastructure, including
level of service, national development, social-economic issues, road user costs, accident
levels, accident costs, environmental degradation, and road maintenance. Proper planning and
execution of these activities are crucial to ensure a safe, efficient, and sustainable road
network.

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 References

European Commission. (2017). Sustainable Transport. Retrieved from

https://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/sustainable_en

IEA. (2020). Sustainable Transport. Retrieved from https://www.iea.org/topics/sustainable-transport

NCHRP. (2012). Best Practices in Traffic Management and Safety. Retrieved from
https://www.nap.edu/catalog/13222/best-practices-in-traffic-management-and-safety

NCHRP. (2014). Effective Transportation Management and Operations Practices. Retrieved from
https://www.nap.edu/catalog/18876/effective-transportation-management-and-operations-practices

NCHRP. (2017). Rural Road Safety: Strategies for Reducing Rural Roadway Departures. Retrieved
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departures

Hearn, G., Sivilevičius, H., & Tarefder, R. (2018). Performance evaluation of road maintenance: A
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NHTSA. (2015). State Alcohol-Impaired Driving Estimates. Retrieved from

https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/

Cao, X., Chen, Q., Li, Y., Wang, J., & Li, W. (2020). Effects of pavement roughness on road safety
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Kucharczyk, W., Ryś, D., & Cepińska-Kaufman, J. (2020). Effect of pavement surface condition on
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Tarefder, R., Hearn, G., & Sivilevičius, H. (2021). Sustainability of transportation infrastructure: A
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El-Basyouny, K., Fotouhi, S., McNeil, S., & Liu, M. (2019). Transportation infrastructure investment
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Wang, Y., Zheng, W., Shen, W., Shi, Z., & Zhang, Y. (2019). The impact of transportation
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