LIFE CYCLE IMPROVEMENT MODEL FOR PAVEMENT STRUCTURE OF THE AUCHI-OKENE HIGHWAY, NIGERIA

Abstract

The Auchi–Okene highway is a vital transportation route in Nigeria but faces persistent challenges of pavement deterioration, high maintenance costs, and suboptimal performance. This study develops a Life Cycle Improvement Model (LCIM) tailored to enhance the durability, cost-efficiency, and sustainability of the highway’s pavement structure. The model integrates traffic analysis, material evaluation, environmental considerations, and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) to provide a systematic framework for pavement management. Using cost data from the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME), the LCCA was applied to compare traditional designs with improved alternatives, incorporating resurfacing and embankment protection measures. The findings revealed that although the Life-Cycle Improvement Model (LCIM), which introduced resurfacing and embankment protection, has higher initial cost of 17%, but offers more sustainable outcomes through enhanced durability and reduced frequency of major rehabilitations. Validation with the Markov chain model further reinforced these outcomes. At the end of the 50-year period, the LCCA produced a total cost of ₦2.83 billion, whereas the LCIM projected ₦3.6 billion. The higher figure for LCIM reflects proactive investment in structural improvements, proving that LCIM is a more inclusive, realistic and sustainable strategy for long-term pavement management over the 50-year analysis period along the Okene–Auchi highway compared to LCCA