Network evaluation and prioritisation of rural roads using vulnerability analysis

The extent of a country's rural road network (RRN) is a major determinant of its economic activity and level of poverty. Connectivity to the rural population and the rest of the network are major tasks in the development of RRNs. This study envisages the consolidation of an existing RRN to improve its overall efficiency as a provider of transportation services for people, goods and services. Funding for rural road construction/upgrade is usually a major constraint in developing countries. Hence, the available resources should be effectively used and, for this, a prioritisation method is necessary. Different RRN models for the prioritisation of links for new construction and upgrading works were explored in this study. It is proposed that prioritisation can be achieved, using realistic and practical criteria, by considering two parameters – the population and the vulnerability of a link. Different patterns of road investment were investigated and compared in order to keep total transportation costs to a minimum while keeping within an investment budget constraint.