ECTP report on the condition of road I-1 near the village of Smolyanovtsi, where there was an accident with a victim
Lack of maintenance and compromised infrastructure in the section of the serious accident near Montana - this is what a detailed report by the European Centre for Transport Policies finds.
Following the serious accident on road I-1 near the village of Smolyanovtsi, in which a man died and his two children are in critical condition, the European Centre for Transport Policies (ECTP) conducted an inspection of the accident site and prepared a comprehensive expert report. The study covers the condition of the road surface, drainage systems, road signs and markings, as well as the geometry and safety of intersections along the route.
The ECTP report found serious shortcomings in maintenance and infrastructure, which directly threaten traffic safety. The drainage systems are clogged, heavily overgrown and functionally compromised, which leads to water retention and an increased risk of aquaplaning. The slopes are unstable and eroded, without the necessary strengthening measures. The intersections in the area do not meet the requirements for intensive traffic and need to be redesigned, and the road markings and signs are outdated and expired, and in places they are missing or indistinguishable under night conditions.
The ECTP also found that the asphalt surface is in average to poor operational condition – network-like and longitudinal cracks, wear of the upper layer and the beginning of edge destruction on the shoulder are observed. This leads to reduced traction and a higher risk of slipping, especially on wet pavement. Measurements of the slip resistance show reduced values, which do not provide the necessary level of safety when driving at the permitted speed. According to experts, the pavement has reached the limit of its durability and needs immediate rehabilitation, including milling and laying a new wearing course with improved friction characteristics.
According to the ECTP experts, the condition of the road can be defined as risky and requires urgent action - clearing and restoring the drainage trenches, strengthening the slopes, replacing the signs and restoring the visible markings, as well as introducing a permanent schedule