Investigating the impact of maintenance regimes on the design life of road pavements in a changing climate and the implications for transport policy

• Existing climate model adapted to examine possible change in pavement deterioration.
• Policy gaps identified for climate adaptation of pavement design and maintenance.
• Model developed to assess the impact of climate change on pavement maintenance.
• Case study used to investigate climate change and maintenance impacts on road life.
• Analysis highlights the importance in considering climate change in policy.

Environmental conditions are one of the key components that determine the design life and maintenance required for road pavements. This study investigates how climate change can impact road pavement design life and the required maintenance regimes required to maximise the life of the surface. Using a pavement degradation model previously adapted by the authors for use with the Thornthwaite Moisture Index climate indicator, the authors investigate the impact of climate change on the design life and maintenance requirements along a real life case study corridor in South Australia. A literature review conducted by this study determines how climate change is being considered in infrastructure related policies and literature, with a focus on road pavements. The paper then further discussed the impacts of climate change on road pavement degradation and the implications for management and maintenance of this infrastructure, and the associated impacts for transport policy makers.