Safety Integrated Network Level Pavement Maintenance Decision Support Framework as a Practical Solution in Developing Countries: The Case of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Every year, road traffic crashes lead to the loss of 1.35 million lives globally, of which ninety percent happens in developing countries. Moreover, the rapid deterioration of road infrastructure in these countries causes substantial economic losses and exacerbates road safety issues. This paper proposes a practical and safety-incorporated approach to implementing a strategic pavement management system to address pertinent problems. A two-tiered stochastic process of pavement deterioration and repair is modeled using a Markov-based model. The proposed model is suitable for road agencies with limited road condition data. Road safety conditions considering all road user groups are measured and analyzed using the international road assessment program. The paper outlines a process for establishing appropriate pavement and safety performance goals, developing a deterioration prediction model, and analyzing the relative life cycle cost and risk of maintenance strategies to achieve dual performance goals—pavements and safety. A case study of a road network in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach, showing a significant reduction in fatal and serious injuries by up to 60% annually. In this regard, the proposed approach is useful for road agencies to make informed and safety-conscious decisions to manage their assets proactively with relatively less pavement condition data to ensure safe roads.