With a view to improving the quality of road infrastructure, over the 2002 to 2006 period Spain carried out a comprehensive study not only of the regulations but also of the methods in this field. The first action to highlight in this respect is the 2003 revision of the pavement and road surface regulations. This optimised the structural pavement sections, adapting them to current traffic conditions and to the technological advances that have occurred concerning both materials and construction systems. Likewise,the Ministerial Order covering the utilisation in road works of marginal soils (expansive, collapsible soils and types with a high soluble salt content, etc.) was passed in 2002. Application of this type of material involved a more rational utilisation of natural resources, thereby achieving anoptimum employment of local materials and consequently reducing the impact on the areas with road works. The Circular Order on recommendations for the design and construction of underground drainage systems in road works came into force in 2004. This regulation set up the basic criteria for thedesign of underground drainage systems, defining the characteristics of the works units to be employed most frequently and the details and rules ofgood practice to be taken into account during their construction and subsequent maintenance. On the subject of structures, this National Report includes the account of an application for assessing the potential risk of undermining on bridges spanning water channels. To this end, it sets up methods to be adopted for carrying out bridge inspections, as also criteria for assessing their vulnerability to the scouring action of water. The Directorate General of Roads of the Spanish Ministry of Development applied these methods to an inspection campaign carried out over the 2000-2003 periodinvolving 1,818 water bridges, all of which were on Spain's State-run Road Network. For the covering abstract see ITRD E139491.
Abstract