Preliminary assessment of pavement damage due to heavier loads on Louisiana highways.
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1999-05-01
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Abstract:The current study makes a preliminary assessment of the impact of increasing the gross vehicle weight (GVW) from current legal limits to 100,000 lb (45,360 kg) on vehicles hauling sugarcane, rice, timber, and cotton. Sample sections of road in each area of the state where the commodities are hauled were identified, the amount of each commodity hauled on the road estimated, and the effect of increasing the GVW evaluated for each section of road using pavement design models.
Design data were secured from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development computer database and project files to determine the pavement design parameters and traffic estimates for each road. The number of vehicles hauling the 1998 harvest payload was estimated, the projected increase in the production of each commodity was based on government statistics, and rehabilitations were designed using the 1986 AASHTO Design Guide for a 20 year analysis period. Net present worth (NPW) was calculated for each GVW scenario for each roadway.
Comparisons of NPW between the weight scenarios showed that increases in GVW have more effect on Louisiana state and US highways than on interstate highways. Any elevation in GVW over current limits increases the cost of overlays and decreases the length of the time before an overlay is required. The cost increase due to raising the GVW is substantial. Fee structures need to be modified by the legislature to pay for these costs through the current registration and overweight permit fee structure or some new tax such as a ton-mile tax.
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