View Related Treatments -------------------------- Repetitive/Short-Term Maintenance Hazard Identification Program Major Maintenance

 

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

Resurfacing of a shared-use path.
Photo by Toole Design Group

 

 

 

Major Maintenance

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.

Purpose

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.

Considerations

• Securing maintenance dollars is difficult. Therefore, focus on designing and constructing facilities correctly at the outset to minimize future maintenance costs. In particular, make sure all drainage issues are fully addressed at the time of construction since water is the culprit for many major maintenance problems. Also, installing the most durable markings and signs as part of the project will reduce annual maintenance costs.
• Providing a good base course for path asphalt and concrete surfaces, particularly for path facilities, can minimize future major maintenance.
• Make sure that major maintenance is reflected in an annual budget that can be carried over from year to year. By definition, the amount spent on major maintenance will vary from year to year (i.e., a new bridge on a trail is not going to occur every year). Avoid "emergencies" if possible.

Estimated Cost

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.

References

Case Studies