INVESTIGATION ON THE ECONOMIC AND LIFE CYCLE COST BENEFITS OF CONCRETE OVER ASPHALT PAVEMENT (USING ISIEKE EBONYI STATE, AS A CASE STUDY)

Abstract

Life cycle cost analysis is a method for assessing the total cost of the facilityownership. It takes into account all cost acquiring, owning and disposing of abuilding, or building system. The cost of road construction consists of designexpense, material extraction, construction equipment, maintenance cost,rehabilitation cost, salvage cost initial construction cost, fuel cost, time saving cost and operations cost over the entire service life of concrete over asphalt pavement. An economic analysis process known as Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) is used to evaluate the cost efficiency of alternative based on the Net Present Value (NPV) concept. It is important to evaluate the above mention cost – aspect in order to obtain optimum pavement life-cycle costs. However, pavement managers are often unable to consider each important element that may be required for performing failure maintenance tasks. The life cycle cost of concrete over asphalt pavement was investigated using Isieke Ebonyi State as a case study. The result obtained from the life cycle cost of both alternatives indicate that the concrete pavement has a longer service life than asphalt pavement and for 1km (kilometer) road length, the life cycle cost of the concrete pavement is lower by a value of 17.3million in naira than that of asphalt pavement in forty (40) years analysis period. The 1km (kilometer) concretepavement is therefore adjudged as an economic viable alternative over asphaltpavement due to it relatively lower life cycle cost and higher service life and as aresult must be given due consideration by prospective investors. Current Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) method are analysed in research. LCCA research willbecome more robust of improvement are made, facilitating private industries and government agencies to accomplish their economic aims.