Life cycle costs and mid-term performance of a geogrid-stabilized pavement section, an economical and sustainable approach, case study, RN-39 Honduras

When we talk about mechanical stabilization of granular layers with geogrids in roadway applications, we often mention that these pavements have a better performance along the time and a reduced cost along the whole life cycle. In the last years we have been measuring the International Roughness Index (IRI) of a segment of multi-axial with triangular aperture geogrid-stabilized road of 45.6 km of length and comparing it with a non-stabilized segment of 30.7 km of length, which was constructed in the same period and was commissioned the same year, for the same traffic. In terms of deterioration based on the International Roughness Index (IRI) for each segment, the mechanically stabilized road has shown a better performance than the non-stabilized segment, this publication seeks to show the tendency of the IRI curve for both sections, and the differences in their behavior. In addition, an analysis with the software; Highway Development and Management, version 2.0 (HDM-4) will be conducted to estimate the impact in the road user’s costs which are part of the life cycle cost and compare both sections, as well as an attempt to emulate and calibrate the IRI curve for the stabilized road section. This publication will help pavement engineers, designers, asset managers, highway engineers, departments of transportation and any people involved on roads, to better understand the economic advantages and performance benefits of mechanically stabilized granular layers with multi-axial geogrids on pavements and how they can help building resilient, durable, and sustainable road infrastructures.