Maintain in good condition our main roads cost more than 3.000 million euros

The Spanish Road Association presents the results of the
Visual Inspection campaigns of Carreteras'2001

Maintain in good condition our main roads cost more than 3.000 million euros

The firm, the road element most affected by the shortfall in conservation

Traffic growth markedly contributes to the deterioration of the network

Madrid, July 4 2002.- According to the latest estimates, between 1995 and 2000 the volume of traffic on Spanish roads has increased 29%. Especially significant is the increased traffic of heavy vehicles, estimated at 37% for the same period.

These growth rates, which experts predict will remain stable in the coming years, significantly shorten the life of a road. Thus it is evident in the results of the latest campaigns Visual evaluation carried out by the Spanish Road Association (AEC), whose field work was developed in the summer of 2001. The research figure in 3.011 million euros (more than half a billion pesetas) the minimum investment currently the Spanish road network needs to reach an adequate level of conservation.

The 93% of this amount (2.795 million euros / 456.000 million pesetas) should be devoted to maintaining the firm, whose condition has deteriorated significantly over the year 1999, exercise that needs investment firm amounted to 2.300 million euros (383.000 million pesetas). The increase in the deficit in pavement maintenance is detected in both the Road Network State where increased investment needs regarding 1999 in 202 million euros (33.600 million pesetas), as in the Autonomic Network, which at this time you need to invest 296 million euros more than in the previous year (about 49.000 million pesetas).

As for vertical signs, their conservation status is maintained in the negative line that had already 1999. Achieving improvement currently requires an investment of 47,79 million euros (7.925 million pesetas), 19% more than in the 99. The trend affects both studied networks investment needs amounting to 13,36 million euros (2.223 million pesetas) for the State Network and 34,43 million euros (5.729 million pesetas) for Autonomic. Remember that this study only analyzes the vertical signaling code (Warning and safety regulations), and not the orientation vertical signs (porches and banners), aspect that has made considerable investment in recent years.

The results of the study of the Spanish Road Association are not much better as regards the condition of road markings. Thus, despite showing stability in 1999 investment needs in this chapter, even with a slight downward trend in 2001 27% an increase (65 million-some seen 10.800 million pesetas against 51 million euros -8.500 million pesetas in 1999).

Metal security barriers are the only element that analyzed improvement over 1999. Investment needs to keep in optimum condition kilometers of barriers installed in the entire network have been reduced by almost 20 billion -about 3.300 million pesetas over the past two years.

Development Studies

The main objectives of the campaigns Visual evaluation that since 1985, performs the Spanish Road Association, are both the knowledge of the state of signage, paving and equipment of the road network as the relationship between the evolution of the state and variations suffered by dedicated conservation investments.

The study does not go into valuations as to the suitability of all these aspects to the circumstances of the road, the proper performance of their function or failure in number, in the case of signs and barriers.

The performance of the X Assessment Firm, IX Vertical and Horizontal Signaling, metal barriers IV, III and II Balizamiento Concrete Pavement has been possible thanks to the co-sponsorship of the following companies and associations:

• Construction Companies Association (SEOPAN)
• Spanish Association of Operators of Petroleum Products (AOP)
• Manufacturers Association Metal Traffic Signs (AFASEMETRA)
• Instituto Español del Cemento y sus Aplicaciones (IECA)
• Nippon Carbide Industries Spain, SA
• Tecnivial
• 3M Spain, SA

The field work was developed in the months of July to September 2001 by a score of evaluators who previously trained, they toured the sections that were allocated to them and reflected their observations on leaves data collection prepared for this purpose.

The total assessed sections of 100 meters each, amounting to 3.181, distributed in all provinces of the country, both in the State Highway Network (1.484) and dependent Network of the Autonomous Communities (1.697). There are, however, not possess seven provinces both networks. In the case of the Basque Country, roads have been considered as belonging to the Autonomic Network, but actually correspond Provincial Network; likewise they have been considered roads Navarra, Canary and Balearic Islands, which depend exclusively on their respective regional governments.

State Indexes show, by comparison with a series of values ​​given for each Demarcation or autonomy, the condition of road infrastructure of our country. Such indices consist of a weighted grade obtained from impairments considered in each section, offering in cases of vertical signs, horizontal, metal barriers and marking, a figure between 0 and 10 line with the increased presence or absence of defects ( 10 = perfect).

As for the firm, the values ​​used to establish the degree of deterioration are in the range of 0 to 400, 0 represented the best possible situation.

Tables Ratings

Study Data Sheet

• 3.181 100 sections of meters each

• 3 million m2 asphalt pavement

• 6.300 vertical signals (only code signals, ie, hazard warning and Regulation)
• 1.000 kilometers of road markings
• Metal barrier meters 98.000
• 11.500 elements beaconing
• 2,6% error in the State Highway Network
• 2,3% error in the Autonomic Network
• 95,5% confidence level

See Results of Visual Inspection Campaigns of Carreteras'2001