Rethinking Traditional Approaches to Low-Volume Road Provision in Developing Countries

Abstract

Low-volume roads (LVRs) constitute an integral component of the road system in all developing countries, where their importance extends to all aspects of the social and economic development of rural communities. However, the original documentation relating to the provision of such roads is based in many respects on technology and research carried out in Europe and the United States some 30 to 40 years ago in environments very different from those prevailing in developing countries. As a result, these traditional approaches are often inappropriate for application in developing countries. Moreover, they tend to focus on the technical environment of road provision, with inadequate consideration of other interrelated environments that critically influence the types of LVRs that should be provided. As a result, a need for new, more holistic approaches to low-volume road provision has been engendered to satisfy the various needs of rural communities in a more sustainable manner. The objective of this discussion is to provide an insight into new, more holistic and sustainable approaches to the provision of LVRs in developing countries. Embodied in these new approaches is a need to rethink the old ways of providing such roads based on research and development work that has been carried out in these countries during the past 20 years. Examples include aspects of planning and project appraisal, geometric and pavement design, construction and drainage, and environmental issues, all of which need to be reconsidered in a more appropriate manner.

Africa's Transport Infrastructure

“…Recognizing the shortcomings of using guidelines from developed countries, the United Kingdom's Transport Research Laboratory has published a series of Overseas Road Notes (TRL 2001) with more appropriate guidelines for developing countries. Guidelines have also been developed in Africa for use either nationally, for example, in South Africa (Transpotek 2001), or regionally (Pinard, Gourlay, and Greening 2003). The challenge is to apply existing designs and standards in a flexible manner to fit the parameters of the local environment and to do so safely and economically.…”

Contribuição ao estudo de solo-emulsão em pavimentos de rodovias de baixo volume de tráfego para o Estado do Maranhão.

“…As rodovias de BVT têm grande importância no desenvolvimento econômico e social das comunidades rurais dos países em desenvolvimento, e as más condições de trafegabilidade destas rodovias podem levar à inibição ou inviabilização de crescimento econômico em sua área de influência (PINARD et al, 2003).…”

“…Isto ocasionará um aumento da relação benefício-custo das rodovias de BVT, atraindo novos investimentos e proporcionando, ao usuário, rodovias mais seguras, revestidas e menos impactantes do ponto de vista ambiental (PINARD et al, 2003).…”