Determining Pavement Damage Cost Attributed to Truck Traffic in Southwest Kansas

The southwest Kansas region is one of the centers in the United States for the production of processed beef and related industries. Trucks utilized to support these industries cause noteworthy damages to the regional highway pavements. The objective of this research project was to determine the pavement damage cost of a typical highway section in southwest Kansas attributed to the truck traffic for the processed beef and related industries. To achieve the project objective, the researchers first collected pavement data from the Kansas Pavement Management Information System. Then, they estimated the truck vehicle miles traveled that were generated by the industries on the selected highway section. Finally, using these data, the researchers determined the damage cost in 2007 dollar value of the selected highway section associated with the industries. During data analysis, the researchers adopted a systematic pavement damage estimation procedure that incorporated a time-decay model and a traffic-related damage model developed by American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and used in the Highway Economic Requirements System. Results of the analysis indicated that the damage cost was as high as $1,727 per mile per year on the 41-mile highway section attributed to the beef and related industries. Outcomes of this research will help highway agents assess highway pavement maintenance needs and set up maintenance priorities. In addition, the analysis results will be valuable for the determination of reasonable user costs.