A framework for evaluation of existing pavement conditions and selection of feasible maintenance/rehabilitation alternatives; a case study in some routes of Livingston Parish in the state of Louisiana

This study presents a step-by-step framework process/general guideline for the process of project evaluation, identify, document, and evaluate the existing pavement conditions plus evaluate the most feasible maintenance/rehabilitation alternatives for flexible roads. The presented framework could be significantly useful for extending the service life of the pavement, based on their accurate time of application. The presented framework consists of six classified steps to evaluate the existing condition of the pavement, assessing the cost-effectiveness of different maintenance or rehabilitation techniques by conducting Life Cycle Cost Analysis and selecting feasible alternative techniques according to distress types in the flexible pavements. As of the framework, four existing pavements located in Livingston parish in the state of Louisiana have evaluated in detail. Finally, at least two feasible alternatives have suggested for each subsection roads and most cost-effective alternative techniques scored according to assigned weighting factors. Although Different strategies are using by various highway agencies to evaluate the strategy of selection of the appropriate alternative, which is different in the details, the proposed framework could evaluate the uncertainties associated with infrastructure conditions plus determining the optimal inspection, maintenance, and rehabilitation decision policies. This study presents that Micro-surfacing and thin overlay techniques found the most common techniques for the case studies sections, which are according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development common treatment selection strategy.