ARRB Transport Research was engaged by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) and Parks Victoria to: review the existing road classification systems used by NRE and Parks Victoria for low volume roads, confirm or modify the existing road classification, establish geometric design standards together with appropriate maintenance criteria for both sealed and unsealed roads, and establish procedures to monitor the performance of road conditions for the various road types. This report provides notes on the development of guidelines for: a road classification system; geometric design guideline standards for each road classification; maintenance criteria and field assessment guidelines for sealed and unsealed roads; and maintenance intervention levels for each road classification and type. The guidelines have been developed in close consultation with officers from NRE and Parks Victoria' with the aim of obtaining consistency in their application across the road network throughout Victoria and to serve as a basis for any development of a common road asset management system. A review of existing road classification systems in various road authorities, both in Australia and overseas, was undertaken. The classification systems adopted by various road authorities for unsealed roads together with assigned geometric design standards are summarised as appendices, as are detailed descriptions of the Austroads Functional Classifications, and details of the proposed road classification system. (A)
Abstract