Pilot Project of Lifetime Design of Asphalt Concrete in Finnish Road Administration

As part of Finnish Road Administration (Finnra) reorganising process the contracting methods and strategies are under active reforming process. In the Uusimaa Region, which is the area surrounding Helsinki, Finnra has started to develop asphalt paving contracts based on the idea of lifetime contracting. In a Pilot Project Finnra developed criteria on how to determine the factors and characters of the pavement, and to request tenders on a lifetime basis. In Finland, the main problem for resurfacing is due to the rutting of the pavement caused by winter tyres. Seven different road sections were selected for the project. For each section contractors were free to choose their own pavement types and give their lifetimes. One section was a test section and the client defined the type of materials for it. The road markings were included in the contract with their own specific quality requirements. The ruts will be measured after three years from the beginning and final lifetime and the value of contractors' tender will be estimated by a certain method. Contractors will get a bonus or fine depending on the measured and calculated factors.