Abstract:
Evaluation of unpaved road construction is the assessment and investigation of material
properties, distress, and adequacy of drainage. In Ethiopia, unpaved roads were serving
the majority of the nations in major rural areas for agricultural, commercial, and other
social mobility purposes. The main problem in unpaved road construction is causing
major distresses of the pavement. The study area, along Deleta to Meta Welkite road,
shows heavily deteriorated sections. Hence, this section of the road should be considered
by coming up with a remedial measure if not maintained without evaluation it needs high
maintenance cost and maintenance repetition throughout the year. Due to lack of proper
distress survey on pavement, movement, and increasing the traffic volume, including
seasonal variations over a while, the problem with gravel roads are numerous, the
inaccessibility of the road during the rainy season is one. The main objective of this study
is to evaluate the performance of unpaved road case study from Deleta to Meta Welkite.
An evaluation of unpaved roads was being identified using literature review, condition
survey, and field data gathering on the affected portions was undertaken to identify the
different types of distresses, drainage data; depth at the center of the ditch, width from
road center to center of ditch. Condition survey distresses assessment were analyzed
depending on their extent and severity and Samples were extracted from five distressed
portions, including samples from one non-distressed portion. Laboratory tests of these
samples were performed for Gradation, Compaction, CBR, Atterberg limit, and specific
gravity tests. The finding indicates that distresses that were reduce performance pothole,
rutting, erosion. The subgrade material is poor material according to AASHTO and
USCS, with a high plastic index varies from 20.9% to 31.24%, gravel surfacing did not
fulfill the ERA specification, CBR value of all material < 30% (between 3.25% to 11%).
And also drainage was rated poor to very poor 100% along Meta Welkite to Deleta.
Therefore, the concerned authority should give attention to drainage maintenance,
selection of queries site, and select material according to specification.
