The evolving climate is increasingly impacting road infrastructure, necessitating a focus on resilience and risk management, according to experts at the recent 2024 National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) conference in Washington, D.C. Amir Golalipour, a highway research engineer at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), emphasized the urgent need for road builders to prepare for extreme weather conditions, sea level rise, and higher temperatures writes Julie Strupp for ConstructionDive. With the average cost per mile of a two-lane road now at about $10 million, designing durable roads is essential to avoid frequent and costly replacements.
Climate change is no longer a distant threat but a present reality, with the U.S. experiencing a record $28 billion weather and climate disasters in 2023, per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These events underscore the need for agencies and builders to abandon assumptions of stationary weather patterns and utilize climate models for future planning. Golalipour highlighted how flooding can reduce road strength by 50% after immersion and noted the substantial wear and tear from recovery vehicles post-disasters, as seen in the aftermath of California’s devastating Camp Fire in 2018.
Wildfires also pose a significant and less understood threat to roads. Fires not only damage the road surfaces but also burn the supporting vegetation, leading to erosion and landslides. Golalipour pointed out that the FHWA’s Order 5520, established a decade ago, guides efforts to mitigate these risks. State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) are required to consider future environmental conditions and develop risk-based asset management plans. The FHWA supports these efforts with tools like the Vulnerability Assessment Scoring Tool and the Adaptation Decision-Making Assessment Process.
Sustainability and resilience, while distinct, are interlinked in the context of infrastructure. Asphalt, the world’s most recycled material, may contribute to sustainability but does not inherently ensure resilience against extreme weather. However, investing in resilient construction upfront can reduce long-term repair and replacement costs, thereby supporting sustainability goals. “When you have a resilient solution and a resilient system overall, that’s going to help you with sustainability,” Golalipour concluded, emphasizing the long-term benefits of building strong and durable infrastructure.
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