Adequate transport infrastructures and systems are a prerequisite to social and economic development. Their impact occurs at various degrees and are a condition to life in absence of accessibility. However, the development and implementation of adequate road networks induces several problems in developing countries and countries in transition. Road infrastructure needs analysis, the socio-economic evaluation of projects, and adequate technical alternatives cannot be achieved properly through the classical process developed in contexts where traffic demand is high and easy to assess. Instead, this analysis and evaluation process should be the result of a new approach which will consider low traffic roads whose impact is more social and environmental than economic. Based on the attempt to define the concept of "appropriate levels of road development", this session aims at suggesting guidelines to road network managers, whether central road administrations or local agencies, who are involved in developing road networks in developing and transitional countries. The role of international organisations, PIARC in particular, in technology transfer for developing countries is discussed. For the covering abstract see ITRD E118727.
Abstract