network.

For this reason, it is common

practice to carry out regular road
condition surveys. These surveys form
the basis for future work programmes
and funding requirements so they
need to be carried out well in advance 1
of the next budget approval process.
Road condition surveys allow the road

P L A N N I N G A N D P R E PA R AT I O N O F W O R K S
authority to:

• become thoroughly familiar

with the road network and its
maintenance problems and as
a result make objective and
quantified assessments of the
conditions of each road,
• re v ie w t he ef fec t ivene s s of
maintenance activities carried out
since the previous inspection, and
• programme improvement and
maintenance works to be carried • performance of cross-drainage
out in the next construction structures such as bridges and
season. culverts
• qualit y and performance of
A road works unit is normally in charge pavement,
of an extensive road network and • extent to which current design
with the limited resources and time is effective in terms of dealing
available, it is necessary to assess the with weather and traffic without
condition of the roads in an accurate causing excessive maintenance
and timesaving manner as possible. demands,
BUILDING RURAL ROADS

Therefore, it is useful to concentrate • containing possible environmental

on the identification of defects using
a few well-def ined key indicators
describing the roads. Such indicators
must be defined for each programme
and will depend on local conditions
and requirements. However, there are
some features that need attention on all
roads:
• overall performance of road (i.e.
providing all-year access),
• drainage features,
problems such as landslides and
soil erosion,
• road safety problem spots.
Road authorities will normally establish
clear procedures for preparing road
condition inventories to be applied
during various stages of planning of
construction and maintenance works.
This information should be stored and
later updated when future improvement
works are carried out.
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