Road Safety Risk Assessment on Partially Completed Road Work Zones in Sri Lanka

Road safety issues in Low to Middle-Income Countries and the key causal factors are well documented in the literature. However, an issue that is often overlooked is the safety hazards posed by road work zones or partially completed road segments that have not followed adequate safety measures to safeguard the road users. The stoppage of road works occurs due to various issues, with financial reasons being the primary cause in developing countries. These sites are left unattended for months, exposing road users to numerous hazards that may result in road crashes. Considering road agencies face major budget constraints, it is unlikely that all road segments can be completed within a short time. Therefore, there needs to be a process to expedite the evaluation of these road segments to prioritize mitigation measures to reduce the safety risk. This research aims to provide a framework for assessing the risks associated with partially completed roads. First, the key safety issues were identified through a comprehensive road safety inspection across several types of sites where partially completed road segments were present. Risk assessment of these segments was done based on the level of exposure of the safety issue to road users, the likelihood of the safety issue causing a road crash, and the severity in the event of a road crash. Then, decision-makers can identify and prioritize critical projects that align with the available budget, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to achieve the maximum impact on road safety. This proactive approach examines critical road design elements, such as geometry, pavement quality, signage, etc, providing actionable insights to mitigate risks. The integration of these methodologies ensures a holistic understanding of safety challenges, enabling the development of targeted interventions to improve safety on partially completed roads.