- 2068 Bhadra (old course) · 5 marks
Importance of maintenance on highways
Short answer
Highway maintenance protects the large investment because reconstruction costs several times more than upkeep. It ensures safety, reduces vehicle operating costs, keeps roads open during monsoon, prolongs pavement life, and gives economic, social, and environmental benefits. Works include patching, crack sealing, resurfacing, drain and bridge repair, and landslide clearing.
Describe the importance of maintenance on highways.
Highway maintenance means keeping the road, its pavement, shoulders, drains, structures and furniture in good condition so that traffic can run safely and comfortably throughout the road's life.
Importance
- Protects the investment: a highway costs a very large sum, and timely maintenance protects it from early failure. Reconstruction costs several times as much as upkeep.
- Safety: a good surface, markings, signs, guard rails and clear sight distance reduce accidents.
- Reduces vehicle operating cost: a smooth road saves fuel, tyre wear, repairs and travel time.
- Keeps the road open all year: drainage, culvert and slope work prevent landslides and washouts in the monsoon, which is very important on the hill roads of Nepal.
- Prolongs pavement life: early repair of cracks and potholes stops water entering the base and subgrade.
- Economic and social benefits: reliable access to markets, health care and schools, and support for tourism and trade.
- Comfort and image: a clean, well-kept road improves public satisfaction.
- Environmental benefit: reduces dust, erosion and sedimentation.
Works include pothole patching, crack sealing, resurfacing, shoulder and drain cleaning, culvert and bridge repair, vegetation control, upkeep of signs and markings, and emergency clearing of landslides.
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)