Selection of Pavement for Highway Rehabilitation Based on Life-Cycle Cost Analysis

Abstract

Life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) for highway projects is an analytical technique that uses economic principles to evaluate long-term alternative investment options, especially for comparing the value of alternative pavement structures and strategies. Recently, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) mandated LCCA implementation to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pavement design alternatives for highway projects in the state. An LCCA approach was utilized for validation of the pavement design on the I-710 Long Beach rehabilitation project with three pavement types: innovative (long-life) asphalt concrete pavement (ACP), standard-life ACP, and long-life portland cement concrete pavement (PCCP). The LCCA followed the Caltrans procedure and incorporated information filed by the project team. The software tools Construction Analysis for Pavement Rehabilitation Strategies (CA4PRS) and RealCost were used for quantitative estimates of construction schedule, work zone user cost, and agency cost for initial and future maintenance and rehabilitation activities. Conclusions from the LCCA supported use of the innovative ACP alternative, the one actually implemented in the I-710 Long Beach project (Phase 1), since the innovative ACP alternative had the lowest life-cycle costs over the 60-year analysis period. For example, the life-cycle agency cost for the innovative ACP alternative ($33.2 million) was about $7.9 million more cost-effective than that of the standard-life ACP alternative ($41.1 million) and about $17.2 million less expensive than the long-life PCCP alternative ($50.4 million). Utilization of the proposed computer tool–aided LCCA procedure would contribute substantial economic benefits to nationwide highway projects, especially rehabilitation and reconstruction.