Page 189 - RoadCem Manual - PCT BV

Despite the above, negative perceptions still persist in some countries that such approaches are uneconomic, time consuming and sub-standard.
Where labour-based operations are indicated, government will need to make a clear policy commitment for change. This will call for special institutional arrangements, comprehensive planning as well as effective managerial and administrative systems and procedures.
7.4 Institutional
The institutional framework of roads sector organizations in many parts of the world critically affects all aspects of road provision. Historically, traditional approaches to the management and financing of road infrastructure have proved to be unsuccessful. Fortunately, the new institutional framework for management and financing of roads offers a promising alternative to traditional approaches and, where implemented, has begun to show positive results.
7.5 Technical
The consistent application of appropriate technical standards and design methods is critical if cost- effective, sustainable solutions are to be obtained. In the past, there was an understandable tendency to rigidly apply imported standards, specifications and geometric and pavement design methods as “best practice” simply because there was little alternative other than taking an unquantified risk in using untried materials and design methods. Transfer of these risks to the designer and the contractor offers advantages and reduces resistance to new approaches.
With the wealth of research and development work undertaken during the past three decades new “indigenous” standards, specifications and pavement design methods have now emerged in a number of innovative ways on the basis of quantified evidence. RoadCem is one of these new innovative methods which are giving very good results. Nonetheless, due sometimes to donor insistence or to lack of awareness of the existence of regional standards, there is still a tendency in some countries to use imported standards.
The time has come for government policy to stipulate that where regional standards, including specifications and design methods exist; they should be used in preference to imported standards.
7.6 Economic
The results of research have shown, quite unequivocally, that adoption of the methods described in this Guideline result in roads that are less expensive to build, are less expensive to maintain and reduce the costs of operating to both motorized and non-motorized transport during their service lives. Thus, both agency costs and total (life-cycle) costs are reduced. Furthermore, although economic assessments cannot readily take into account social benefits, if these are included, the benefits of following the principles advocated in the Guideline should be obvious. Nevertheless it is necessary to demonstrate this repeatedly and as clearly as possible for the benefit of administrators, economists and others in authority that should not be expected to be conversant with the engineering principles involved in road building and maintenance.
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