More than 2,500kms of key Moldovan roads have been placed in a “bodyscanner for roads” and digitally sliced into tens of thousands of sections. Problems have been diagnosed and affordable remedies identified. The findings are influencing the design of road projects shortly to be built and in preparation. If the recommendations to bring best international practice to Moldova are adopted, the look and feel of Moldova’s roads and villages will visibly change for the better over the next decade. Roads will be easier to use on wheels or on foot, will need less Police enforcement — and will be safer. Road crashes cost Moldova 2% of GDP. With limited budgets, setting targeted priorities is vital. The report identifies 20 types of improvement tailored site by site as top value-for-money priorities. For every Lei invested, 5 Lei would be returned to the economy. Priorities include pedestrian crossings at 760 sites; roadside barriers over 260km; 2000km of shoulder treatment; 1160km of road markings; 60km of central hatch markings to guide safe overtaking; 50 roundabouts; and 10km of clearance of roadside hazards. Separately, EuroRAP is reporting on opportunities for traffic calming in villages. Overall, road markings were found to be poor on more than 90% of the road network inspected. Less than 20% of roads were rated as in ‘good’ condition. Some 80% of the network had unpaved shoulders. Two-thirds of the road network has aggressive objects less than 5 metres from the road edge. (Author/publisher)
Abstract