Road-improvement Costs Analysis
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XPEN DITU RE incurred in road improvements in 1958 averaged £1.11 per sq. ft.: it was £1.68 in urban areas and £0.83 in rural districts. These figures, based on recent schemes for classified or trunk roads in England and Wales costing more than £10,000, are given in a Road Research Laboratory technical paper " An Analysis of the Cost of Road Improvement Schemes," by Mr. R. F. F. Dawson, published by H.M.S.0.. price Is. 9d.
The investigation was based on Ministry of Transport records relating to more than 200 schemes carried out during August and September, 1958. or completed in the previous four months. It relates primarily to the building of new roads, or the widening or realignment of existing ones.
It was found that land costs accounted for 20 per cent, of the total cost in all urban schemes and for over 50 per cent. in one-eighth of them. For rural schemes the average land cost was 3.5 per cent. New dual carriageways cost 1512,000 per mile in urban areas and £256,000 in rural areas: new single carriageways cost £116,000 per mile in urban areas and £70,000 in rural areas.