Potential Impact of Climate Change on Porous Asphalt with a Focus on Winter Damage

This chapter investigates the impact and adaptation options of climate change on porous asphalt (PA) roads, specifically for the case of winter weather (freeze-thaw cycles) and road damage in the Netherlands. Changes in weather patterns pose a threat to the serviceability and long-term performance of roads, as up to half of road maintenance costs are attributable to weather stresses. PA is of particular concern in the Netherlands, where its use has become mandatory, primarily for environmental (noise reduction) concerns. In recent winters, ravelling and pothole damage have increased the discussion about cold weather performance of PA and the potential challenges of changing winter weather patterns. Current climate change impact research often produces results on a systemic, macroscale, and less is known about the regional impact to specific road types. To address this, we examine the correlation between historic winter weather and PA pavement performance, which is particularly sensitive to the freezing/thawing phenomena. That relationship is combined with Dutch regional climate models and used to analyze the potential physical and economic impacts of adapting to future climate change. This has implications on maintenance, design, and long-term planning of the road network in the Netherlands.