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Citation |
Cottrell BHJ. Transp. Res. Rec. 1993; 1395: 73-78. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 1993, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing) |
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DOI |
unavailable |
PMID |
unavailable |
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Abstract |
A cost analysis on paved shoulders was performed. The scope was limited to shoulders made of an asphalt plant mixture used to extend the mainline pavement. The literature review generally supported the notion that paved shoulders are economically justifiable under certain conditions. However, there was no consensus on the specific conditions. The survey results showed that 91.4% of the state departments of transportation (DOTs) surveyed use paved shoulders on two-lane roads to some degree. Most or all shoulders were paved by 42.9% of these DOTs, and 40.0% have threshold values to warrant paved shoulders. For the average new two- and four-lane road projects, the initial cost increases 16.7 and 8.3%, respectively, and there is a service life increase of 14.3% with 0.61-m (2-ft) paved shoulders. For a resurfacing project, initial cost increases of 72.0 and 36.0% are realized with a 0.61-m paved shoulder on two- and four-lane roads, respectively. Through an economic analysis using the equivalent uniform annual cost method, it was revealed that 0.61-m paved shoulders for new two-lane roads are economically justifiable under certain average daily traffic volumes that depend on the road's functional classification and terrain type. Paved shoulders of 0.61 m are not economically justifiable for most existing two-lane roads. For four-lane and six-lane roads, 0.61-m paved shoulders are economically justifiable for all new roads and for existing roads above certain average daily traffic volumes. Language: en |