Potential impact of climate change on porous asphalt with a focus on winter damage

This paper investigates the impact and adaptation options of climate change on porous asphalt roads, specifically for the case of winter weather (freeze-thaw cycles) and road damage in the Netherlands. Changes in weather patterns pose a threat to the serviceability and long-term performance of roads, as up to half of road maintenance costs are attributable to weather stresses. Porous asphalt (PA) is of particular concern in the Netherlands, where its use has become mandatory, primarily for environmental (noise-reduction) concerns. In recent winters, ravelling and pothole damage have increased the discussion about cold weather performance of porous asphalt and the potential challenges of changing winter weather patterns. Current climate change impact research often produces results on a systemic, macro scale, and less is known about the regional impact to specific road types. To address this, we examine the correlation between historic winter weather and PA pavement performance, which is particularly sensitive to the freezing / thawing phenomena. That relationship is combined with Dutch regional climate models and used to analyse the potential physical and economic impacts of adapting to future climate. This has implications on maintenance, design, and long-term planning of the Netherlandsr road network.