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International Focus Group at TRL

January 2002

by Robert Petts

Evaluation Options - Rural Road Surfacing

Intech Associates

© Intech Associates. Extracts may be copied if the source is acknowledged

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Need for more extensive evaluation of rural road surfacing options

Traditional approach to surfacing selection based mainly on lowest initial cost – assuming maintenance will be funded and organised

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Now there is a need to consider more carefully:-

1. Maintenance arrangements

2. Comparison of Whole Life Costs of Surface Options

3. Socio-economic and environmental issues

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Will Maintenance be achieved?

Key Questions:-

Who owns the road Is somebody responsible for maintenance? Are there adequate funds for maintenance on a

regular and guaranteed basis? Is there a credible resourced and motivated

maintenance organisation in place? Are the key stakeholders properly represented?

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Bear in mind the World Bank’s advice:-

“The evidence is abundant that satisfactory basic (maintenance) systems can seldom be established in less than fifteen to twenty years and that help may still be needed thereafter to deal with expansions of maintenance workload and to avoid retrogression.”

The Road Maintenance Problem and International Assistance, World Bank, December 1981.

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Rural Road Network – Example Annual Funding Required

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0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

ChipSeal

SemiPen-mac

StonePaving

Gravel:best

Gravel:worst

Earth:highCBR

US

$/km

PeriodicMaintenance

RoutineMaintenance

Vietnam Data: 1. Excludes emergency works.2. Periodic liabilities usually start about 3 - 6 years after constructio n.

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Example Whole Life Costs– Short Haul Scenario

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Whole Life Costs (discounted @ 10%)

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

BrickPaving

Semi-Penmac

DressedStone

PackedStone

Sand-B itSeal

Chip Seal Gravel

US

$/km

M aintenance(10 years)

C onstruc tion

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Example Whole Life Costs– Long Haul Scenario

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Whole Life Costs (discounted @ 10%)

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

Semi-Penmac

BrickPaving

Gravel Sand Seal Chip Seal DressedStone

PackedStone

US

$/km

M aintenance(10 years)

C onstruc tion

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CONSTRUCTION COST ANALYSIS - GRAVELLING BY HEAVY EQUIPMENT - VIETNAM

4%

17%

41%

38%

Labour (4%) Equipment (41%) Materials (38%) Overheads & Profit (17%)

Source: RT2 Project

0

50

100

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

East

West

North

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90

50

100

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

East

West

North

CONSTRUCTION COST ANALYSIS - DRESSED STONE PAVING - CAMBODIA

17%

4%

13%

66%

Labour + Community Transport (66%) Handtools (4%), (Equipment=0)

Materials (17%) Overheads & Profit (13%)

Projected for contractor application from Trials

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CONSTRUCTION COST ANALYSIS - HAND PACKED STONE PAVING - INDONESIA

0%

28%

13%

59%

Labour (59%) Equipment (28%) Materials 0% (Free) Overheads & Profit (13%)

Source: Flores Project

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Develop National Policy on Rural Road Surfacing Make Realistic Appraisal of Maintenance Regime Make National standards, arrangements for rural road

construction & maintenance, & quality assurance compatible

Integrate Surfacing Considerations into IRAP Approach Make Surface designs more location-specific Use spot improvements in resource constrained

situations (earth standard plus drainage & structures for basic access)

Use gravel only where shown to be appropriate

Strategies for providing the RIGHT surface - I

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Reduce maintenance liabilities to manageable levels Further research and trials to be organised to refine

technical, organisational, economic, socio-economic knowledge of alternative surfacing options

Develop supporting documentation & guidelines for Surfacing Options

Involve stakeholders in surfacing selection & agreeing maintenance responsibilities

Organise Demonstration and Awareness Creation Programme for wider adoption of Appropriate Surfaces

Develop Regional Cooperation on Surfacing Issues

…………Are there other strategies to be considered?

Strategies for providing the RIGHT surface - II

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Provide adequate earthworks, camber, drainage and structures for basic access if resources are severely

constrained

Earth Road for Basic Access

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Roads 2000, Kenya

Access Roads, Cambodia

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Gravel / Laterite is a

“Low cost – High Maintenance Surface”

Use it

with care!

Remember………..

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The Right Surface

Contributes to Contributes to The Way AheadThe Way Ahead Intech Associates