Demonstration of HDM-4 in Evaluating Different Investment Alternatives for Unpaved Road

Abstract

In the context of under developing countries like Afghanistan, poverty can be reduced by proper management and effective use of infrastructure budget, and provision of labor-intensive construction projects. The labor-intensive works approach can bolster livelihoods in the immediate term, create new small businesses in road maintenance and works, encourage workers to save and invest wages in other kinds of new micro-enterprises, and improve critical road infrastructure to sustained economic growth. In this study, the use of the HDM-4 model is demonstrated in defining the road improvement and maintenance works and selection of optimum maintenance and rehabilitation strategies available for the road sector under constrained budget available for the road sectors in Afghanistan. This study presents the economic analysis and justification of upgrading an existing engineered gravel road to a paved standard evaluating 8 different investment options. The existing road is 22.02 km long and passes through hilly topography.