RESEARCH ON ECONOMICAL MAINTENANCE OF LOW-VOLUME ROADS. PRELIMINARY STUDY AND RESEARCH PLAN

In this preliminary study, low-volume public roads refer to connecting roads and regional roads with a traffic volume of less than 200 vehicles a day. There are altogether around 53,000 km of such roads, or about 68 % of all public roads in Finland. Approximately 53 % of such roads have a gravel surface. Dissatisfaction with the level of maintenance on the low-volume road network in Finland has increased over the last few years, especially when compared to the level of maintenance on the main road network. This discontent is due to the overall poor condition of the low-volume roads in general. A too low maintenance level and poor drainage system on this road structure are causing, for instance, frost damages, uneven gravel roads, poor road pavements and also bridges of bad condition. The essential question facing the economical maintenance of low-volume roads using disposable financing is how to keep this road network in an acceptable condition in relation to the demands of the permanent population, and the agriculture and forest industries. The target of the research project is to develop more economical measures, methods and findings than today. The study is based on assessing the road users' needs more accurately and to concentrate on the maintenance procedures in accordance with this assessment. The research program is a three-year program. The estimated cost of the program is 1.8 Million Euros. A follow-up team and a project-team will be established to oversee implementation of the research program. Various co-operative meetings dealing with the topics of the research program will be arranged with road authorities, researchers and foreign colleagues.