Abstract
Low-volume roads play an essential role in the development of rural areas in Spain, yet most are in a poor condition since hardly any money is designated for their upkeep. This work proposes a management system for the Spanish low-volume road system based on an analysis of the present management of the country’s road and low-volume road networks, the methodologies used in the inspection and evaluation of the latter’s condition (designed by the authors), and on data from other countries. The proposed plan involves the stages of implantation, execution and monitoring, each one with its own objectives. The possible sources of funding for such a management system – vital if its future is to be ensured – are also discussed.
Highlights
Low-volume roads play an essential role in developed countries
Other interesting aspects studied at international level have been related to the strategies for optimising the investments destined for maintaining rural roads in minimally acceptable conditions (Hough et al 1997), for deciding whether new roads are more desirable from an economic point of view (Thomas 1998), and the determination of the sums to be invested in different stretches of road when working to a fixed budget (Sánchez-Silva et al 2005)
In Spain, according to the trend followed in other European countries as well as in the USA, low-volume roads play a vital social role and contribute to increase the life quality of people living in rural areas, which is nowadays one of the goals of the EU
Summary
Low-volume roads play an essential role in developed countries Their main function is to facilitate access to farms and fields (Jaarsma, van Dijk 2002). Low-volume roads are commonly used as communication routes between populations, they allow the access of emergency services (Gallego et al 2004), and are of great importance from an environmental point since they make up an ecosystem in their own right (Lugo, Gucinski 2000) They allow knowledge of the environment to be gained and provide access to leisure areas – ever more in demand by city dwellers. This paper discusses the possible sources of financing the management plans focusing on the Spanish framework
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