Pushing the envelope in road research in Australasia: the development of a comprehensive road research program and set of Australasian best practice guidelines

One of the most comprehensive best practice guides relating to road management practice ever produced in the world was launched in Australia and New Zealand on 1st July 2009. The preparation of the ten guides, consisting of 96 parts, was funded by Austroads, the association of Australian and New Zealand road transport and traffic authorities. The majority of the work was conducted by ARRB Group. The guides represent the culmination of over five years of collaborative effort between Austroads, Australian and New Zealand road authorities (at federal, state and local government levels), industry and ARRB. More than 90 technical experts were involved in the development of the Guides as primary and contributing authors. Some of the guides represented revisions and updates of existing publications whilst other guides were entirely new material. This paper provides an overview of the development of the Guides. The program of research conducted under the Technical Research Agreement, including some of the key outcomes from 2008/2009, is also presented.