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Evaluation of Life-Cycle Cost Analysis Practices Used by the Michigan Department of Transportation

CSS Publication Number
CSS08-06
Full Publication Date
June 1, 2008
Abstract

Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) has become a common practice in road construction at the state level during the past decade in the United States. It enables pavement engineers to conduct a comprehensive assessment of long-term costs, and ideally agency highway funding can be allocated more optimally. Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has adopted LCCA in the pavement selection process since mid-1980s, yet its application in actual projects has not been reviewed. Using case studies, this paper seeks to analyze MDOT's accuracy in projecting the actual costs over pavement service life and choosing the lowest-cost pavement alternative. Ten highway sections in Michigan were chosen and grouped into four case studies. Their estimated and actual accumulated costs and maintenance schedules were compared. While results indicate that MDOT LCCA procedure correctly predicts the pavement type with lower initial construction cost, actual costs are usually lower than estimated in the LCCA.  This outcome may be partly because the cost estimation module in MDOT's model is not site-specific enough. Refinements to its pavement construction and maintenance cost estimating procedures would assist MDOT in realizing the full potential of LCCA in identifying the lowest cost pavement alternatives for the studied pavements.

Co-Author(s)
Eric Gabler
Research Areas
Urban Systems and Built Environment
Materials
Keywords

Cost control, Estimation, Government agencies, Life cycles, Pavement management, Road construction

Publication Type
Journal Article
Digital Object Identifier
DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-947X(2008)134:6(236)
Full Citation

Chan, Arthur, Gregory Keoleian, and Eric Gabler. 2008. Evaluation of Life-Cycle Cost Analysis Practices Used by the Michigan Department of Transportation. ASCE Journal of Transportation Engineering 134(6): 236-245.