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Low Volume Track Paths in Austria - Theory and Application

Date and Time: Wednesday, July 26: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Grand Ballroom A

 

Lead Presenter: Wolfgang Haslehner

Head of Low Volume Road Department; University Lecturer at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, State Government of Burgenland, Eisenstadt, Austria; Institute for Transportation Engineering, Vienna, Austria

Speaker Biography

- Head of Low Volume Road Department - State Government of Burgenland
- University Lecturer at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences - Institute for Transportation Engineering, Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Research Association for Roads, Railways and Transport - Head of Low Volume Road Committee
- 36 years practical and theoretical experience concerning Low Volume Roads

Co-Authors 

Presentation Description/Paper Summary

A new guideline regarding track paths in Austria has been elaborated. This paper shows the practical application of this guideline in a case study of a recently built low volume road within this theoretical framework. The rural low volume road network in Austria consists of all roads that are neither federal nor provincial roads and serve the purpose of enabling access to the rural area. This low volume road network includes all municipal, farm and forest roads. The total length of these roads amounts to approximately 160.000 kilometers or 80 % of the total Austrian road network. The responsibility for construction and maintenance of this rural road network in Austria is split between private persons and public authorities. The federal and state governments as well as the European Union provide grants for the maintenance and construction of these projects. The new guideline for low volume track paths also takes the experiences and know-how from neighbouring countries like Germany and Switzerland into consideration. These track paths consist of two load carrying tracks where the construction materials being used are asphalt, concrete, surface treatment or block pavers. What makes this innovative construction method unique is the fact that by regarding specific local conditions the idea of this way of ecological and environmental conscious construction can provide ideas for the road building community around the globe.

Presentation File

Poster