Skip to main content

Extending the life of road assets

In an opinion piece published by the IRF, Matthew Jordan-Tank, head of infrastructure policy and IPPF, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has explained that extending the functional life of road assets can be achieved using performance-based contracts. In most developing and merging market economies, roads require rehabilitation, or even reconstruction, many years prior to the expected date. Simply put: usable life is not equal to design life, and it is not uncommon to find that a ro
April 7, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
RSSIn an opinion piece published by the 3918 IRF Washington, Matthew Jordan-Tank, head of infrastructure policy and IPPF, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has explained that extending the functional life of road assets can be achieved using performance-based contracts.

In most developing and merging market economies, roads require rehabilitation, or even reconstruction, many years prior to the expected date. Simply put: usable life is not equal to design life, and it is not uncommon to find that a road must be rehabilitated only halfway into its estimated original asset duration. While harsh climate conditions with large seasonal temperature changes may play a role, much of this 'premature' investment boils down to lack of systematic maintenance that is normally applied in countries with regular 'asset management' funding regimes.

Applying performance-based maintenance contracting to the road sector can produce significant fiscal improvements, as well as user benefits in the form of better maintained and therefore safer roads.

EBRD recently published a paper providing a condensed yet substantive overview of the key international lessons learned in the area of performance-based contracts.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • London roads pose danger for powered two wheeler riders
    June 10, 2015
    There were 127 deaths on London's roads in 2014, according to official figures released by Transport for London (TfL). Of these deaths, 27 were of motorcyclists. Given that motorcyclists still constitute a comparatively small percentage of the total number of road users, this is of concern. Neil Greig, director of policy and research at the Institute of Advanced Motorists' (IAM) said, "Motorcycling is gaining in popularity in the capital where it offers an excellent solution to London's congestion problems,
  • ICEMA: makers of small equipment should consider the Subcontinent
    April 20, 2016
    $14 billion awarded in the national highway sector of which around $4 billion will be for small roads in rural areas. Makers of small construction equipment should take a closer look at the Indian market given the government’s focus on rural roads. During its bauma Forum presentation, Anand Sundaresan, president of the Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (ICEMA), said there is an urgent need for equipment suited to small projects. These include breakers and small pavers of around
  • Albedo: reflections upon performance
    May 16, 2020
    Albedo can impact pavement performance by a factor of between 10-15%.
  • IRF & CHTS 2015 China Congress and Annual Meeting
    July 7, 2015
    The International Road Federation (IRF Geneva), the Transport Planning and Research Institute of the Ministry of Transport of China (TPRI), and the China Highway and Transportation Society (CHTS) will be hosting a major conference in the beautiful city of Chongqing, China on 20th-22nd September 2015. The call for abstracts is now open. Chongqing was separated from Sichuan province and made into a municipality in its own right in March 1997 in order to accelerate its development. Since its elevation to nati