Geotechnical Asset Management for the Highway Route Between Değirmenlik and Kyrenia, North Cyprus

The highway route between Nicosia and Kyrenia via Değirmenlik is studied in this thesis. This route is vital as it links important facilities such as, Ercan airport in Nicosia and touristic hotels in Kyernia. The serviceability of the highway route relies on the performance of the geotechnical assets along the route, which can be effectively maintained by applying geotechnical asset management. The geotechnical assets along the route are comprised of three types of assets; natural earth slopes, rock slopes and earth retaining walls. In this thesis, a geotechnical asset management framework is developed to be applied on the selected highway route. Condition appraisals of the selected assets are carried out by collecting data on the geotechnical assets and a database for the selected assets are formed. A risk assessment study is carried out in order to evaluate the effect of failure of the assets on the highway performance. In parallel to these studies, slope stability assessments for the natural earth slopes and retaining wall assets are carried out to evaluate the stability of the assets. Decisions on maintenance and improvement options are made for the selected assets by combining the results from the above studies. Life cycle cost analyses are also carried out to help compare the maintenance and improvement options available for the assets. The proposed methodology for the geotechnical asset management is presented in a flowchart with details of stages to be followed in managing the selected assets along the highway route. iv Within the studied geotechnical assets; five of the seven natural earth slopes studied are found to be in need of only minor maintenance, whereas five of the six rockfall sites studied are found to have major maintenance needs. In the assessments for the earth retaining walls, two of the three assets studied are found to be in need of minor maintenance such as slope regrading and wall strengthening. As a result of all analyses, Time Line Plans and Budgeting Plans are developed for all of the assets for the next thirty years. From these plans, rockfall sites seem to require relatively the most expensive maintenance options to be applied. For all assets, provision of rigid barriers or net fences in the ditch areas are considered to be the most effective solutions to retain the slope materials. Keywords: Asset management, decision making, life cycle cost, slope stability, condition survey.