Social costs of the road project in the operation phase

Abstract

Abstract The project of road is defined by sequences of phases, which create the life cycle of road. At each phase of the life cycle are arisen specified types of costs. At the operation phase arise significant capital costs, which are necessary for the road management, maintenance and repairs of roads. Besides of the capital costs, the social costs are also a part of the operation costs. The social costs are monetizing negative impacts from the road traffic to the road users, society and environment. The capital and social costs of the road operation are a part of the economic evaluation of the road infrastructure projects. Maintenances, repairs and works on roads limit the road operation. Work constraints on the road create so-called work zones. Negative impacts of road zones to road users and society are not part of the economic evaluation of road projects in Slovakia. The main negative impact of work zones to the road users is the loss of travel times. For this reason, was made a procedure for calculating and monetizing travel time costs due to work zones. The main purpose of this procedure is effective planning of road works with the aim of reduction negative impact to the road users. This quantification procedure of travel time costs due to work zones was applied to practical example.