A Methodology to Estimate Load and Non-Load Shares of Highway Pavement Routine Maintenance and Rehabilitation Expenditures

The present study focused on the estimation of load and non-load shares of pavement maintenance and rehabilitation expenditures. The information provides the basis for the allocation of pavement-related expenditures in a highway cost allocation study. A comprehensive database was developed in the study, and an aggregate performance approach was used based on econometric models. This approach utilizes the marginal effect of traffic loading to quantify the load and non-load shares of pavement routine maintenance and rehabilitation expenditures. The study revealed that the share of pavement damage attributable to load and non-load factors depends on several factors such as the type of improvement (routine maintenance or rehabilitation), pavement type, and other variables. For routine maintenance, the load and non-load shares were found to be 25-75 for flexible pavements, 36-64 and 60-40 for Jointed Concrete Pavements (JCP) and Continuously Reinforced Concrete (CRC) pavements, and 30-70 for composite pavements. The load and non-load fractions of rehabilitation expenditures used to repair pavement damage were found to be 30-70 for flexible pavements, 80-20 for JCP, and 40-60 for composite pavements. It is expected that the results of this study will facilitate the apportionment of pavement routine maintenance and rehabilitation expenditures in a fair and equitable manner.