Concrete and Bituminous Pavements in the Seville – Cadiz Motorway Comparison of Total Costs

The AP-4 motorway connecting Seville with Cadiz in southern Spain was opened to traffic in 1971. About half its length has a concrete pavement designed in accordance with the Californian approach prevailing at that period (plain concrete pavement with undowelled joints, on a cement treated base). Pavements with asphalt concrete were chosen for other sections built on low quality soils. A significant portion of the original sections with concrete pavement is still in service, with very low maintenance. A comparison is made between the total costs over almost forty years for both the concrete and asphalt pavements used in the motorway.