A review of the effects of salinity on road pavements and bituminous surfacings

Damage to roads in Australia as a result of salinity is predicted to increase considerably over the next 40 years and result in a substantial rise in road maintenance costs. As a result of land use and climatic changes, both rural and urban roads are predicted to become more susceptible to the effects of salts primarily due to dryland and urban salinity. The effects of salinity on roads have been reported both in Australia and worldwide since the early 1900s. This paper reviews research undertaken on the effects of salts on roads focussing on two primary themes, namely salt damage to bituminous surfacings and salt stabilisation of unsealed pavements. The sources of salts in roads and the risk, and cost, of salinity related damage to the Australian road network are also discussed.