The predominant need in the administration of rural roads is to improve the maintenance and performance of the existing network rather than to construct new roads. To achieve this goal, an economic analysis of costs and benefits related to the level of accessibility and the economic life of the road network is normally required. In rural areas where the road is a component of an area development program and traffic volumes are low (less than 50 vehicles per day), a socioeconomic methodology that examines the relationship between road accessibility, agricultural and forestry production, and social services has been applied to evaluate costs and benefits of investments of the whole program, including its road improvement component. Rural investment is most efficient when the most economic type of roadway and the complementary agricultural/forestry social investments are jointly optimized. The principal benefits achieved are reduced transport costs, increased area of agricultural land in production, increased yield per unit area, and all-weather accessibility. One of the most important tasks to be done by local governments is the condition inventory and evaluation of the road network. Other issues discussed include design of low-cost bridges and water crossings, optimization of routine and periodic maintenance expenditures, and the application of environmental procedures in the administration of low-volume roads.
Abstract