Economic impact assessment of Yucca Mountain spent fuel transportation on Nevada's transportation infrastructure: Pavement structural capacity analysis

Structural capacity analyses was performed on the following selected representative segments of highways: U.S. Highway 93Alt in Elko county, U.S. Highway 93 in White Pine county, U.S. Highway 6 in White Pine County, U.S. Highway 6 in Nye county, U.S. Highway 95 in Esmeralda county and U.S. Highway 95 in Nye county (Fig. 1).;The existing pavement structural system in terms of pavement layer thickness and properties were defined. The environmental factors specific to the area under investigation were identified. The cumulative traffic data (on a yearly basis) was obtained and the future traffic growth was estimated with and without repository traffic. A relationship between loss of pavement serviceability and cumulative traffic loading was developed and this relationship was used to arrive at current frequency of maintenance strategies (without repository traffic). Based on the above relationship, the increase in pavement maintenance and rehabilitation activities caused by repository related traffic was estimated. Pavement performance prediction models for determining the pavement cracking (fatigue) and rutting distress modes were used. Lastly these rehabilitation strategies were translated into an economic cost to taxpayers. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).