Road Drainage in Sweden: Current Practice and Suggestions for Adaptation to Climate Change
Publication: Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 19, Issue 2
Abstract
This paper describes current practice in road surface and subsurface drainage in Sweden and analyzes the necessity for adaptation of the planning, construction, operation, maintenance and monitoring of road drainage measures to climate change. Based on a survey of professionals working with various aspects of road drainage, the study sought to identify: (1) problems experienced concerning road drainage, focusing on the current Swedish climate; (2) future problems regarding climate change impacts such as flooding and high flows; and (3) suggestions for adaptation measures concerning road drainage systems, taking future climate change into account. Suggested improvements concerning management and planning included clarification of responsibility for drainage issues, better overview of the location and condition of drainage facilities, inclusion of drainage system maintenance in procurement of operation contracts, maintenance plans for drainage facilities, and monitoring and inspection of drainage measures. Suggestions concerning drainage system construction, operation and maintenance included increasing the capacity of drainage facilities, stabilizing ditch slopes and various measures to prevent clogging of culverts.
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Acknowledgments
This study was financed by the Swedish Road Administration through the Centre for Research and Education in Operation and Maintenance of Infrastructure (CDU). The authors also thank all those individuals from the SRA and Vectura who took part in this study.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 19 • Issue 2 • June 2013
Pages: 147 - 156
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 12, 2011
Accepted: Jul 24, 2012
Published online: Aug 15, 2012
Published in print: Jun 1, 2013
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