Every year, large sums are spent on maintaining roads and streets, of which a very large proportion have a low traffic intensity. However, present maintenance strategies and techniques are based to a large extent on experience from roads with high traffic intensities and therefore it is a risk that the maintenance of the low-volume road network will be neglected. This report describes the low-volume road network. The description indicates the location of the roads and their adt (average daily traffic), in addition to wearing courses, road widths and speed limits. Details are also given of the number of accidents and their severity. For comparison, a corresponding description is given of the high-volume road network, although in less detail. To arrive at a decision on the time for implementing a maintenance action from the aspect of theoretical economics, a cost-benefit analysis is described. This compares an immediate action against a postponement of maintenance. The description consists of an examination of such an analysis and the variables that should be included in this case. The analysis takes into account vehicle costs, travel time, comfort evaluation, and accident values. A short overview of pavement maintenance systems and performance models, and their applicability to low-volume roads and streets, is presented, together with different approaches to the choice and planning of actions on an individual object. Different views on the functional characteristics and road surface requirements that should be given priority in the case of low-volume roads and streets are described. This is followed by a review and description of various technical actions, a short description of the problem area of gravel road maintenance and a report on the present level of knowledge regarding drainage actions. Finally, there is a description of a number of problem areas where there is considered to be a great need of R&D. (A)
Samenvatting