Bicycle Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System
A bridge replacement project is an opportunity to improve the surface and barriers to create a safer crossing for bicyclists. http://www.pedbikeimages.org/ - Dan Burden
Activities such as repaving short pieces of damaged path surfaces, spot repair of bike lane pavements, or repairs to major drainage problems fall into the category of major maintenance. While major maintenance occurs infrequently, it should be budgeted for on an annual basis to avoid large, unexpected budgetary demands.
Once major maintenance categories have been identified, set maintenance priorities by identifying which activities are critical to the safe operation of the facility and which ones are critical to other objectives such as protecting the investment in the infrastructure, protecting the environment, and protecting aesthetics. While some priorities may vary to reflect local community expectations, safe operation of the facility should never be compromised. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Maintenance Manual recommends that maintenance should seek to maintain conformance with the design guidelines used to build the facility. Where proper guidelines were not used, maintenance should include improvements to the facilities safety and operation.
The final major maintenance budget and plan should include a checklist of all maintenance items, the frequency of and cost for each activity, the annual cost of each activity, and an indication of who will perform the activity. The inspection process will also identify which projects should be added to the capital improvements list since certain repairs extend beyond maintenance. Priorities related to safe operation of the facility should be clearly identified and a tracking procedure clearly outlined.
Major maintenance activities provide an opportunity to improve the safety of a facility; protect the investment in a facility; and protect the aesthetics and the environment.
When developing a major maintenance plan for a new facility, the first step is to check current costs for maintaining an existing facility. The key is to obtain the costs for maintaining a facility that is most similar to the facility you plan to construct.
The next step in developing a maintenance budget and plan is to create a list of all possible maintenance activities. A good way to begin is to list major items included in the facilities' design. Most major items will have a measurable life expectancy. For example, asphalt pavement on a trail may have a 15-year life expectancy. Taking the total miles of asphalt trail and dividing it by 15 will give a good estimate of how much pavement needs to be replaced on an annual basis. Bridges are better handled on a case-by-case basis. Make a list of all bridges on trails, estimate their probable life, and then devise a multi-year plan for major maintenance or replacement. Listing all major maintenance items, while a lot of work, is a one-time activity that will allow you to develop a realistic budget.