POLICY INVESTIGATION FOR THE SEALING OF UNSEALED ROADS

The results are given of a questionnaire survey which examined the need for research into currently used techniques of providing technically based advice for the selection and programming of seal extension works. The areas covered in the survey include policies for seal extension works, programming for future seal extension, basis of decision for establishing priorities, decision-making procedures, factors considered in analysis of proposal, cost of sealed v. unsealed, effect of size of program and captial value of county on sealing program, evaluation of factors relevant to the decision-making process. The survey results showed that county councils place importance on the subjective local knowledge of their members when deciding priority ranking of seal extension works. Many counties establish priorities using noneconomic factors such as opinion of council, etc. Traffic data is the factor which is most consistently measured and used. Economic evaluation is one of the most important factors used in giving advice to council. The questionnaire showed that there is little consensus between county engineers as to the relevance of technical factors in establishing priorities for extension of seal.