This study focused on how, more than now, the implementation of sustainable safety measures in the infrastructure field can be combined with road maintenance. The study did not deal with how these projects can be combined with the construction of new infrastructure. The period 1998-2002 was examined. The results were based on the available literature and on interviews held with various municipal road authorities in the Dutch province of Overijssel and with the province itself. It was established that they are already aware, to a large extent, of the advantages of combining both aspects. In practice, they combine, wherever possible, large-scale road maintenance and reconstructions with implementing sustainable safety measures. The most important advantages mentioned were cost savings and the reduction of inconvenience for the road users. Two bottlenecks concerning the combination mentioned were found. Firstly, the aim to combine can produce risks. As a result of decision-making procedures sometimes taking a long time concerning sustainably safety measures, maintenance can be postponed for a long time, which can lead to higher costs. Secondly, the aim to combine can lead to sustainable safety projects that will be introduced later than the inital planning.
Abstract