Regional Balkans Infrastructure Study Transport - WBC-INCO Net

!" # $ $ $%&
The information received was then studied and validated by the Consultant,
who also discussed the information with the authorities and inspected selected
sections of the network. In some cases where reliable information was not
available, the review was based on estimates and assumptions by the Consultant
,, 3 $ 0 4
The geometrical characteristics of the core road network varies substantially -
from 2-lane roads with less than 7m pavement to 4-lane roads and motorways,
as shown in Figure 2.7 overleaf. Generally, the roads have sufficient capacity to
carry the present traffic, although some sections in and around cities are in need
for capacity improvement.
Corridor X has 4 lanes on most of its sections, except for the southern part,
while the other corridors and routes have 2-lane roads. In the central part of the
region bottlenecks of around 870 km of roads need widening or realignment
due to insufficient pavement width. These roads have less than 7 m carriageway
which is considered to be the minimum (refer Chapter 3.2.2) or the curve radii
are too small.
Whereas the roads mostly have the sufficient capacity to carry present traffic
volumes, the road conditions are often poor due to several years of neglected
maintenance. Over 70% of the road network was found in need for some form
of pavement renewal or rehabilitation. The situation may be summarised as follows
("wearing course" refers to the top layer of the pavement whereas the
"overlay" is a structural layer which increases bearing capacity):
• Roads without problems 28 %
• Roads which need new wearing course 25 %
• Roads which need pavement rehabilitation 24 %
• Roads which need overlay + new wearing course 12 %
• Roads which need complete new pavement 11 %
However, there are major differences from country to country. The best pavement
condition is found in Croatia, where the majority of the roads are in good
condition. In Albania the roads are either newly rehabilitated or badly in need
of complete reconstruction because the traditional pavement is a penetrated
macadam which is not able to resist present and future axle loads.
Corridor X shows a reasonably good pavement condition, however with a need
for a new wearing course and on the southern sections also combined with an
overlay.
Road conditions are shown in Figure 2.8.
29