Cost-Effective Structures for Off-System Bridges

2003 ◽  
Vol 1819 (1) ◽  
pp. 397-404
Author(s):  
Francesco M. Russo ◽  
Terry J. Wipf ◽  
F. Wayne Klaiber
Keyword(s):  
Asset Management ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The United States ◽  
Federal Aid ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Low Volume Roads ◽  
Bridge Strengthening ◽  
Maintenance And Rehabilitation ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
Local Agencies

Nearly half of the 587,000 bridges in excess of 6.1 m (20 ft) long on public roads in the United States are located off the Federal Aid System, are on local rural and urban roads or rural minor collectors, and are classified as off-system bridges. Approximately one-third of the off-system bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The majority of states with large bridge populations are rural states with large percentages of structures owned by counties and other local agencies. Many of these bridges are on low-volume roads. Given the size of the deficient bridge population and the concentration of these bridges largely on locally owned networks, a recent NCHRP synthesis (NCHRP 32-08, Cost Effective Structures for Off-System Bridges) has explored the current practices regarding the maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement of off-system bridges. The administrative aspects of off-system bridge ownership and management were explored, including sources and problems of funding, bridge asset management, design policies for off-system bridges, exploration of the environmental process, and discussions of interagency partnering and coordination problems. A significant body of work exists on effective bridge maintenance and rehabilitation. A significant discussion of bridge strengthening, including specific techniques used on low-volume-road bridges, was also examined. Concerning bridge replacements, the literature and owner survey were used to provide information on successful concepts currently being used. In addition to successful bridge replacement options, discussion of the use of standard plans, design aids, and software is promoted as leading to standard and efficient low-volume-road bridge replacements.

Development of Surfacing Criteria for Low-Volume Roads in South Dakota

2005 ◽  
Vol 1913 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela S. Wolters ◽  
Kathryn A. Zimmerman ◽  
David L. Huft ◽  
Paul A. Oien
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Agency Cost ◽  
Cost Models ◽  
User Cost ◽  
Road Section ◽  
Low Volume Roads ◽  
Maintenance And Rehabilitation ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
Local Agencies

On a daily basis, local road agencies in South Dakota face the challenge of how to maintain low-volume roads cost-effectively. Specifically, agencies are faced with the decision of determining when it is most economical to maintain, upgrade, or downgrade a road's existing surface. To assist decision makers with maintenance and rehabilitation decisions, the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) initiated a study in 2002 to investigate surfacing criteria for low-volume roads. The overall objective of this research is to create a process that allows users to compare the costs associated with different types of roads to provide assistance in deciding which surface type (hot-mix asphalt, blotter, gravel, or stabilized gravel) is most economical under a specific set of circumstances. In addition to incorporating economic factors into the analysis, the process allows the user to consider other noneconomic factors that are more subjective and difficult to quantify. The process used during this study is flexible enough to allow users to consider any combination of agency costs incurred by the agency for maintaining its roads, user cost factors such as vehicle operating costs or crash potential, and noneconomic factors such as politics and housing densities. The methodology was created with agency cost and user cost models developed on the basis of specific road section information supplied by various local agencies in South Dakota, average daily traffic and crash occurrence information supplied by the SDDOT, information obtained through a literature search, and input from members of the project's technical panel.

Otta Seals and Gravseals as Low-Cost Surfacing Alternatives for Low-Volume Roads: Experiences in South Africa

2003 ◽  
Vol 1819 (1) ◽  
pp. 338-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Oloo ◽  
Rob Lindsay ◽  
Sam Mothilal
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Low Volume Roads ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Traffic Volumes ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
To Come

The geology of the northeastern part of the province of KwaZulu–Natal, South Africa, is predominantly alluvial with vast deposits of sands. Suitable gravel sources are hard to come by, which results in high graveling and regraveling costs brought about by long haul distances and accelerated gravel loss. Most gravel roads carry fewer than 500 vehicles per day of which less than 10% are heavy vehicles. The high cost of regraveling has led to consideration of upgrading such roads to surfaced standard, even though traffic volumes do not justify upgrading. Traditional chip seals are expensive and cannot be economically justified on roads that carry fewer than 500 vehicles per day. The KwaZulu–Natal Department of Transport is actively involved in efforts to identify cost-effective alternative surfacing products for low-volume roads. Field trials were conducted with Otta seals and Gravseals, which have been used successfully in other countries, as low-cost surfacing products for low-volume roads. The Otta seal is formed by placing graded aggregates on a relatively thick film of soft binder that, because of traffic and rolling, works its way through the aggregates. Gravseal consists of a special semipriming rubberized binder that is covered by a graded aggregate. Both Otta seals and Gravseals provide relatively flexible bituminous surfaces suitable for low-volume roads. Cost savings are derived mainly from the broad aggregate specifications, which allow for the use of marginal materials.

Soft Asphalt Pavement – Solution for Low-Volume Roads in Changing Climate and Economy

2014 ◽  
Vol 934 ◽  
pp. 47-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrius Vaitkus ◽  
Viktoras Vorobjovas ◽  
Donatas Čygas ◽  
Algis Pakalnis
Keyword(s):  
Asphalt Concrete ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Applied Research ◽  
Asphalt Pavement ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Asphalt Mixtures ◽  
Alternative Solution ◽  
Asphalt Pavements ◽  
Low Volume Roads ◽  
Low Volume

In Lithuania, it has always has been an important issue to find durable and cost-effective solutions for paving low-volume roads. The conventional asphalt concrete structures were built using paving grade bitumen with the penetration of 70/100 or 100/150 over the recent 20 years. The performance of those pavements was satisfactory. As an alternative solution, the use of soft asphalt pavements was proposed. This technology is widely used in Nordic countries. But in Lithuania it has never been applied. Research on the designed soft asphalt mixtures was carried out and the trial on-site sections were constructed. The results of laboratory tests and on-site research were positive and promising. Based on that, the technology could be considered as successfully implemented and good quality was achieved.

Full-Depth In-Place Recycling and Road Strengthening Systems for Low-Volume Roads: Highway No. 19 Case Study

2003 ◽  
Vol 1819 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Curtis Berthelot ◽  
Ron Gerbrandt
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Large Network ◽  
Low Volume Roads ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
Foamed Bitumen ◽  
Upgrading Strategies ◽  
Feasible Solutions

The province of Saskatchewan has the highest number of public roads per capita in Canada, totaling approximately 198,700 km. The Saskatchewan Department of Highways and Transportation manages approximately 26,100 km of these public roads. As with most public road agencies, the department has limited resources for managing this relatively large network of low-volume roads and therefore continually strives to research and implement more cost-effective and technically feasible solutions. Of particular concern are approximately 7,500 km of thin membrane surface (TMS) roads that are undergoing accelerated damage as truck traffic and loading increase. Although conventional TMS upgrading strategies are normally effective, there are potentially significant benefits to be gained with implementation of more cost-effective methods of road strengthening. Systems include granular soil strengthening and applications of different cement products, lime, various grades of fly ash, geotextiles, geogrids, natural and manufactured fibers, emulsified bitumen, tall oil, lignin, foamed bitumen, and synthetic ionic and cationic chemicals. Since 1999, in conjunction with Pavement Scientific International and in cooperation with the University of Saskatchewan and product suppliers, the department has constructed pilot projects on Highway No. 19 to identify, develop, and implement more cost-effective strengthening systems. The primary research objective is to investigate alternative road construction systems that will improve the load-carrying capacity and environmental durability of Saskatchewan TMS roads. Improved mechanistic engineering methods played a part in this initiative, and pilot project performance was monitored.

Observing the Basics: Remembering Wilfred Owen

2003 ◽  
Vol 1819 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-12
Author(s):  
Mathew J. Betz
Keyword(s):  
World Population ◽  
Brookings Institution ◽  
Cooperative Effort ◽  
The Third ◽  
World Population Growth ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Low Volume Roads ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
Major Emphasis ◽  
Wilfred Owen

The conference presents a unique opportunity to recognize the contributions of Wilfred Owen to the field of low-volume roads and their application to the problems of today and tomorrow. Owen was the transportation expert for the Brookings Institution for about four decades. Besides being interested in the theories and principles of low-volume roads, Owen was vitally concerned with the rural and urban needy throughout the world. He believed that the development of transport and the economic opportunities that would ensue would benefit them significantly. Few have had more impact on the provision and improvement of low-volume roads in developing countries than Wilfred Owen. He was the author of many studies of specific countries in addition to several books. His major emphasis was on the need to identify and grasp the basics of economic evaluation and, more important, the basic premises and goals for investing in transport to facilitate economic development. Owen’s second major emphasis was on well-founded and rational planning. He focused on the need for change, including the reorganization of international efforts to address the global transportation problem. In 1983 Wilfred Owen was the keynote speaker at the Third International Conference on Low-Volume Roads. His topics that day included a shrinking planet, integrated global economies, world population growth, global disparities, and development of an international cooperative effort. He had completed his last book shortly before his death in November 2001.

Rethinking Traditional Approaches to Low-Volume Road Provision in Developing Countries

2003 ◽  
Vol 1819 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Pinard ◽  
C. S. Gourley ◽  
P. A. K. Greening
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Road ◽  
Project Appraisal ◽  
Holistic Approaches ◽  
Low Volume Roads ◽  
Social And Economic Development ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
Traditional Approaches

Low-volume roads (LVRs) constitute an integral component of the road system in all developing countries, where their importance extends to all aspects of the social and economic development of rural communities. However, the original documentation relating to the provision of such roads is based in many respects on technology and research carried out in Europe and the United States some 30 to 40 years ago in environments very different from those prevailing in developing countries. As a result, these traditional approaches are often inappropriate for application in developing countries. Moreover, they tend to focus on the technical environment of road provision, with inadequate consideration of other interrelated environments that critically influence the types of LVRs that should be provided. As a result, a need for new, more holistic approaches to low-volume road provision has been engendered to satisfy the various needs of rural communities in a more sustainable manner. The objective of this discussion is to provide an insight into new, more holistic and sustainable approaches to the provision of LVRs in developing countries. Embodied in these new approaches is a need to rethink the old ways of providing such roads based on research and development work that has been carried out in these countries during the past 20 years. Examples include aspects of planning and project appraisal, geometric and pavement design, construction and drainage, and environmental issues, all of which need to be reconsidered in a more appropriate manner.

scholarly journals Integration of optimization methodology to evaluate pavement maintenance strategies for deteriorated low-volume roads

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwan Hafez ◽  
Khaled Ksaibati ◽  
Rebecca Atadero
Keyword(s):  
Optimization Procedure ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Maintenance Strategies ◽  
Pavement Maintenance ◽  
Low Volume Roads ◽  
National Economic ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
Optimization Methodology

Low-volume roads (LVRs) are restricted with limited maintenance funding due to the recent national economic downturn. Only few selected LVRs with deteriorated pavements are typically rehabilitated in which poor LVRs are expected to continue deteriorating to extreme levels of distress. Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is evaluating pavement treatments on LVRs to find the most cost-effective maintenance strategies. As part of these efforts, a comprehensive optimization analysis is adopted in this paper to investigate alternative maintenance strategies and define the capital improvement plans for deteriorated LVRs with marginal pavement conditions. A proposed strategy was found to enhance the effectiveness of current policies followed by CDOT. However, the results emphasize the need for additional resources at network level for dealing with deteriorated LVRs. The optimization procedure described in this paper can be followed by other agencies nationwide to identify strategies and establish funding needs that secure higher funding from decision makers.

Traffic Effects of Fairs and Festivals on Low-Volume Roads

2003 ◽  
Vol 1819 (1) ◽  
pp. 260-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald W. Eck ◽  
Daniel A. Montag
Keyword(s):  
Performing Arts ◽  
Traffic Management ◽  
The United States ◽  
Arts And Crafts ◽  
Sporting Events ◽  
Trip Generation ◽  
Special Events ◽  
Low Volume Roads ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Low Volume

Special events, including sporting events, concerts, historical re-enactments, and fairs and festivals, can generate large volumes of traffic such that congestion and associated problems occur on low-volume roads. In particular, theme-oriented fairs and festivals, such as arts and crafts fairs and wine and jazz festivals, are growing in number and popularity throughout the United States. Quantifying and understanding the traffic characteristics of fairs and festivals would be useful in predicting how such events will affect traffic flow on a low-volume road, planning traffic management, and predicting parking needs. One specific need is for trip-generation data for estimating the magnitude and nature of travel associated with theme-oriented fairs and festivals. Background data were collected for a number of West Virginia events on low-volume roads through interviews and questionnaires. Five categories of theme-oriented fairs and festivals were identified: food and drink, arts and crafts, cultural heritage, historical, and performing arts. The number of booths was recommended as the best independent variable to use in calculating trip-generation rates. Attendance and vehicular data were collected and analyzed. Vehicle occupancy for theme-oriented fairs and festivals was determined to be 2.33 people per vehicle. Trip-generation rates and corresponding statistics were determined for 2-day (Saturday and Sunday) and 3-day (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) events. Implications of the study results for low-volume road managers were considered.

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