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

  • Steering the way to greener road infrastructure
    February 14, 2012
    While international diplomatic negotiations on how to tackle climate change are faltering, the International Road Federation (IRF) is taking action and leading the way to meet calls for greener transport systems
  • Call for Papers for the 18th IRF World Road Meeting
    October 18, 2016
    The 18th edition of the IRF World Road Meeting (WRM) will take place from 14 – 17 November, 2017 in Delhi, India. The WRM has been organised by IRF once every four years for the last 60 years. The WRM is a prestigious event and is expected to attract over 4,000 international and national participants. The theme for WRM – 2017 is “SAFE ROADS and SMART Mobility: The Engines of Economic Growth.” Road transport and mobility are the lifeline of a modern economy and contribute significantly to economic growt
  • IRF members partner on asphalt pavement engineering research
    October 16, 2020
    Arizona State University’s Schools of Engineering and FORTA Corporation, a Pennsylvania-based leader in the synthetic reinforcement fibres industry have announced a partnership to support further research into the resilience of pavements.
  • Organisations’ ‘fairer charging’ call
    February 20, 2012
    Three major road organisations have issued a policy statement on fair charging for greener, smarter and safer road infrastructure.