Road Administration

Road Asset Management
Road Asset Management is the coordinated effort to maintain the quality, safety, and economic value of a road from the time it is built until it is no longer in service. Since roads are a country’s most valuable asset, maintaining this asset is no less important than building new ones.
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1. Main Objectives of Road Asset Management
• Protecting Investment Value: To manage the billions of dollars spent on road construction and prevent premature deterioration of the road.
• Improving Service: To ensure that the road remains accessible to vehicles and to prevent disruption to business and social relations.
• Reducing Costs: Timely maintenance saves the high cost of rebuilding the road (which can be 10 to 20 times higher).
2. Maintenance and Protection Strategies
The following activities are mainly carried out to protect road assets:
a. Axle Load Control
Overloaded heavy vehicles are the number one cause of road damage. Therefore, control using weighbridges in each province is part of the protection.
B. Drainage Protection
Keeping roadside ditches and culverts free of dirt and sand at all times to prevent water from seeping under the asphalt.
C. Right of Way Protection
Includes preventing illegal construction on the road, preventing animals from grazing, and preventing agricultural activities from approaching the road.
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3. Road Asset Management System (RAMS)
In a modern system, information is collected using software to protect road assets. This system includes the following information:
1. Road Inventory: The length, width, construction date, and type of road.
2. Condition Survey: What is the current condition of the road? (Excellent, Good, Average or Bad?).
3. Prioritization: Identify which roads need urgent attention given the limited budget.
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4. Citizens’ Role in Road Asset Conservation
Road asset conservation is not only the responsibility of the government but also of the public:
• Avoiding dumping waste in roadside drains (as this causes water to pool on the road).
• Avoiding burning tires or throwing acidic materials on the road.
• Protecting traffic signs and street lights from accidents and theft.
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Important point: “Spending one birr today for repairs saves 25 birr tomorrow when the road collapses and needs to be rebuilt,” the engineering guideline clearly describes the essence of asset conservation.