RURAL ROAD SURFACING RESEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE ACCESS AND POVERTY REDUCTION IN SOUTH EAST ASIA

概要

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The paper describes recent DFID and World Bank funded research on alternatives to gravel roads in Vietnam and Cambodia. A substantial range of proven, low-cost, rural road paving options is available and many of these have been tested in over 150 road sections constructed in South East Asia. These paving options are suitable for construction and maintenance by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The paper also reviews the alternative surfacing options. Most of these paving options require little capital investment in equipment, use labour-based techniques and can optimise the use of local materials resources. They can utilize locally made or available simple equipment, thus promoting local manufacturing and appropriate equipment ownership. For many of these techniques overhead costs could be reduced and a higher proportion of the costs could be recycled in the local community. The maintenance burden of these alternatives is usually lower than for gravel roads, and whole life costs can be cheaper than the provision of a gravel surface. Poverty reduction would be facilitated both through the involvement of the local community in the works, and improved, more sustainable access.