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Low Volume Roads
TRL’s understanding of providing community access through developing locally sustainable maintenance practices for low volume roads is second to none. Our experience has been gained over sixty years working in developing countries on projects funded by Department for International Development, World Bank, EU, Asian Development Bank and other bilateral aid agencies.
Our knowledge of the engineering characteristics of gravel roads and the conditions in tropical road pavements has enabled us to develop more suitable specifications for many local materials. This experience has also enabled us to locate whilst conducting road failure investigations where inappropriate materials have been used.
Being able to assess long-term the design and performance of both bitumen-surfaced and all-weather gravel and earth roads has improved our understanding of the way different road structures and surfacing materials behave under the extreme loadings and harsh climates seen in the tropics. Our low volume rural road engineering services include:
- Trial demonstration projects and performance monitoring
- Low volume road engineering and community access
- Development of appropriate standards and specifications for low volume roads
- Use of low cost marginal materials
- Road maintenance management in developing countries
- Asset management and whole life costing
- Establishing road research centres in developing countries
- Rural transport services training
TRL has produced over fifty Overseas Road Notes, guidance manuals and international road maintenance handbooks, all of which are regarded as definitive works. They cover a range of topics including the following:
- ORN 3: A Guide to Surface Dressing in Tropical and Sub-Tropical Countries
- ORN 6: A Guide to Geometric Design
- ORN 5: A Guide to Road Project Appraisal
- ORN 8: A Guide to Small Bridge Design for Highway Engineers
- ORN 19: A Guide to the Design of Hot Mix Asphalt in Tropical and Sub-Tropical Countries
- ORN 22: A Guide to Pro-Poor Transport Appraisal - The Inclusion of Social Benefits in Road Investment Appraisal
- ORN 31: A Guide to the Structural