London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Road Network Development & Management

Road Network Development & Management

Road network development, management, operations, and use are a process that entails planning, programming, budgeting, design, construction/inspection, maintenance and repair, rehabilitation, and reconstruction. Roads are essential for effectively, efficiently, and safely moving goods and people.

They drive growth and development and are a vital indicator of a country’s quality of life and standard of living, connecting urban, suburban, and rural areas in the community.

The Virgin Islands (VI) (British) road network needs improvements in planning, programming, layout, design, construction, maintenance, and repair to deliver these expectations and functions effectively. Modifications are required to meet domestic transportation needs and for economic competitiveness.

Road Classifications and Types


The four major road classifications are a) highways, b) arterials, c) collectors, and b) locals. The VI roads are primarily collectors and locals and are multi-use. Consequently, engineers should design them to carry the heaviest wheel load that will potentially use them consistently. Typically, there are three types of roads: concrete (rigid pavement), asphalt (flexible pavement), and dirt. Generally, asphalt pavement is less costly to construct but more expensive to maintain; concrete, more expensive to build but cheaper to maintain.

Return on Road Investment/Value for Money


VI residents are dissatisfied with the serviceability of the territory’s roads. They frequently vent about the quality, feeling that they are not getting value for the tens of millions invested on roads. Roads are in a relatively poor to moderate state with a short lifecycle. The short network life cycle is attributable to several factors: design, construction, maintenance, and repair. Moreover, poor drainage is a contributing cause of rapid road deterioration.

Drainage


Road design, construction, and maintenance are major contributing factors to poor drainage. Roads seem to experience flooding even with frequent recurring rain events, i.e., 2-, 5-, 10-year, etc. Consequently, to prevent or minimize flooding, the Public Works Department (PWD) needs to take the following actions, a) elevate/build-up road base, b) put a crown on the roads, c) design and construct proper cross slopes, d) construct roadside ditches, curb and gutter, catch water drains and cross drains and e) and ensure roads are constructed/inspected, maintained and repaired consistent with design criteria, removing runoff from roads and preventing ponding. Ponding results in water infiltration into the top layer, base, subbase, subgrade, resulting in standing water, birdbaths, etc.

Ponding results in potholes and other related deteriorations that adversely impact the serviceability of roads, i.e., a) increased maintenance and repair cost, b) increased driving hazards, c) shortened lifecycles, d) increased vehicle owners operating cost, e) increased probability of accidents, f) increased insurance cost, g) traffic issues, and h) increased road reconstruction cost. Drainage lines, pipe culverts, box culverts, curb and gutter, manholes, etc., must be adequately sized, installed, and maintained. Further, engineers need to pay special attention to hill road alignments, viz, slope stability, geometry, drainage, i.e., roadside, catch water, and cross drains drainage.

Moreover, poor drainage contributes to flooding, resulting in property damages. Drainage systems must be frequently inspected, especially after heavy rains; a robust maintenance program must be developed and consistently executed. A menace and vexing issue for many VI residents is potholes. PWD should develop and launch pothole patrol crews to arrest this problem.

Design Lifecycle and Construction


Designers typically design roads with an estimated lifecycle, i.e., 10-, 20-, or 30-year. For the streets to attain or closely approach these lifecycles, they require routine, periodic, and other maintenance, i.e., crack sealing, skin patches, pothole repairs, minor full-depth repairs, etc.

The following is a typical periodic maintenance schedule for an asphalt 20-year design life street. An asphalt road typically has three layers: the subgrade bottom layer, the base layer, and the surface layer. Continuing, at the 7-year mark, a seal coat is applied (additional coat on the existing surface). At the 15-year mark, an overlay is applied (top surface milled and replaced with a new topcoat). And finally, at the 20-year mark, the road is completely reconstructed. PWD should periodically assess and analyze the condition of all roads, using one of the existing tools to determine the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) and plan of action. PCI is a numerical index ranging between 0 and 100 that is employed to determine the general condition of the road. Typically, a PCI of 100 indicates a road in good condition; 0, a road in an ultimately failed condition; a PCI of 40 or less, poor condition; PCI of 20 or less, failed state.

Moreover, it is essential to note that the proper fix for a failed road is reconstruction. Seal coating or overlaying is not a reconstruction of a road. Placing a seal coat or overlay over a failed road at best only provides temporary relief. The nice shiny surface is only a mirage, for, in short order, the symptoms of a failed road will soon resurface.

Road Cuts


The frequent cutting of roads weakens and shortens their lifecycles. And it seems that no sooner than when PWD completes a road project, the road is cut into. PWD should publish a 5- or 10-year road construction/reconstruction schedule to prevent or minimize road cuts so that water, sewage, electricity, and telecommunications can plan and coordinate their major projects consistent with the PWD schedule. Additionally, PWD should require permits for all street cuts. Moreover, road cuts weaken and shorten road life. Therefore, PWD should assess a fee for repairing street cuts; the newer the road, the higher the fee.

Road Network Layout


The road network layout is neither ideal nor friendly. For the most part, the road layout followed previous alignments. Save for Anegada, which is flat, consisting of coral and limestone, all the other islands in the VI chain are of volcanic origin and steep/hilly. And there are several steep terrain roads in the territory, e.g., Tortola, the largest island. Vehicles ascending and descending steep terrain can face and experience hazardous conditions.

Consequently, roads in hilly terrain are constructed in a circular pattern to moderate the steepness to facilitate more stable and safer roads and comfortable travel. Circular hill roads are longer but are safer and reduce the wear and tear on vehicles. However, following previous road alignments and lack of land availability and access, realigning the network layout will be challenging and require land purchases, land swaps, right-of-way, allocations, easements, and eminent domain (controversial last resort).

Further, the VI can benchmark how other hilly terrain countries construct hill roads. For example, some used hairpin turns (switchbacks), viz, Saint Gotthard Pass in Switzerland, Aristi-Pagingo in Greece, Hana Highway, Maui, Hawaii, Sierra da Leba in Angola, SC-438 in Brazil, Jacob’s Ladder in Tasmania, Zig Zag Hill in Dorset, England and Alpe d’Huez in the French Alps. And as a part of the road capital improvement program (CIP), a rank priority order list of road projects, a road consultant engineer or firm may need to be hired to assess and analyze the network layout and provide improvement recommendations.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×