Regional Freight Movement and Its Impact on Air Quality: Simulation of Freight Traffic and Pavement Maintenance Operations

Freight movement emits greenhouse gases (GHGs) and deteriorates pavement - thereby causing additional emissions from pavement maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) treatments. This study predicts the carbon dioxide equivalent GHGs (CO2eGHGs) emission from simulated freight movement and pavement M&R operations on regional highways connecting the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Quebec. This study estimates the equivalent single axle loads (ESALs), CO2e GHGs emissions, and vehicle distance on every regional highway for a 30 years period. The International Roughness Index (IRI) estimates pavement deterioration curves for highways based on ESALs and observed pavement strength. Linear programming of life-cycle optimization estimates the pavement M&R operations required to maintain the pavement in good condition during the design period. The simulated freight traffic will emit 1.279 million tons of carbon dioxide gas while emissions from pavement M&R treatments will be 1.403-1.755 million tons of CO2e GHGs.