Heavy Trucks Accelerate Pavement Deterioration on Taman–Waru Road, Study Finds Strong Correlation
FORMOSA NEWS – Heavy traffic loads are the primary cause of pavement deterioration along the Taman–Waru Road corridor in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, according to a new study conducted by Yeyen Dwi Affri Rahmandhani, Risma Marleno, and Laksono Djoko Nugroho from Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 (UNTAG) Surabaya. Published in 2026 in the International Journal of Integrative Research (IJIR), the research reveals that increasing traffic loads significantly accelerate road surface degradation. The findings are particularly important because Taman–Waru Road serves as a strategic arterial route connecting Sidoarjo’s industrial zones with the Greater Surabaya metropolitan area. Thousands of vehicles, including freight trucks and logistics carriers, travel through the corridor every day. While this road supports economic activity and industrial distribution, the intensive movement of heavy vehicles has created serious challenges for pavement durability. The researchers found an exceptionally strong relationship between cumulative traffic loads and declining pavement conditions. Their findings provide scientific evidence that can help local governments improve road maintenance planning while strengthening enforcement against overloaded freight vehicles.
Road Deterioration Remains a Major Infrastructure Challenge
Declining road conditions affect more than driver comfort. Damaged roads increase vehicle operating costs, elevate accident risks, and place additional financial burdens on governments responsible for maintenance and rehabilitation. Road pavements are typically designed based on projected traffic loads over a specific service life. However, when the number of heavy vehicles or their loads exceed design assumptions, pavement structures can fail years earlier than expected. This phenomenon has been observed in several regions across Indonesia. Previous studies have shown that overloaded vehicles can significantly shorten pavement service life. Taman–Waru Road appears to be experiencing a similar problem due to its role as a major freight corridor serving industrial estates and distribution centers. Field observations identified several forms of pavement distress, including alligator cracking, rutting, potholes, and surface raveling. These damage patterns are commonly associated with repeated loading from heavy vehicles.
Traffic Surveys and Pavement Assessments
To examine the impact of traffic loads on pavement performance, the research team conducted a comprehensive study along a two-kilometer section of Taman–Waru Road. The corridor was divided into ten segments, each measuring 200 meters in length. Traffic surveys were carried out over seven consecutive days, recording vehicle counts, vehicle classifications, and axle configurations that contribute to pavement damage. At the same time, pavement conditions were evaluated using the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) method, an internationally recognized assessment system that rates road conditions on a scale from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better pavement quality, while lower scores reflect more severe deterioration. This approach enabled researchers to objectively compare pavement conditions across segments and analyze how they relate to cumulative traffic loads.
Heavy Trucks Cause the Majority of Road Damage
The survey recorded an average daily traffic volume of approximately 5,600 vehicles per day. Although three-axle trucks and five-axle trailers accounted for only 22.9 percent of total traffic volume, they were responsible for approximately 84.3 percent of the total pavement loading impact. According to the researchers, pavement damage increases exponentially as axle loads become heavier. As a result, a single overloaded truck can generate the same level of pavement deterioration as hundreds or even thousands of passenger vehicles. Traffic loading increased progressively toward the Waru end of the corridor, where industrial and logistics activities are concentrated. This pattern helps explain why the most severe pavement damage was found near industrial zones.
Pavement Conditions Decline Toward Industrial Areas
The PCI assessment revealed significant variations in pavement conditions along the study corridor. The highest PCI score was 72, classified as Good, and was recorded near the Taman area. In contrast, the lowest score was 32, classified as Very Poor, and was found near Waru.The condition distribution showed:
-2 segments classified as Good.
-3 segments classified as Fair.
-3 segments classified as Poor.
-2 segments classified as Very Poor.
Alligator cracking density increased dramatically from 2.1 percent in the first segment to 21 percent in the final segment. Rutting depth also increased from 3 millimeters to 28 millimeters, exceeding commonly accepted critical thresholds for pavement performance and driving comfort. Overall, the average PCI score for the entire road section was 53.7, indicating that the corridor is generally in poor condition and requires maintenance intervention.
Traffic Load and Pavement Damage Show an Extremely Strong Relationship
One of the most significant findings of the study is the exceptionally strong statistical relationship between traffic loads and pavement deterioration. The analysis produced a correlation coefficient of -0.987, indicating that increases in traffic loading are almost always accompanied by declines in pavement condition. The coefficient of determination reached 97.4 percent, meaning that nearly all observed variations in pavement condition can be explained by cumulative traffic loads. According to Yeyen Dwi Affri Rahmandhani and colleagues from UNTAG Surabaya, traffic loading is the dominant factor influencing pavement performance and service life along the Taman–Waru corridor. The study also found that 50 percent of the surveyed road segments have already exceeded their design traffic load limits, leading to accelerated deterioration and reduced service life.
Several Road Segments Require Immediate Rehabilitation
Remaining service life calculations showed that the most heavily loaded segments have only 6.6 to 9.4 years of service life remaining, compared with the original design life of ten years. Two segments located between STA 1+600 and STA 1+800 were identified as requiring major rehabilitation within the next two to three years to prevent further structural failure. Based on these findings, the researchers recommend installing Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) systems at both ends of the corridor. Such systems would allow authorities to monitor vehicle loads in real time without disrupting traffic flow. The study also emphasizes stricter enforcement of overload regulations, particularly for freight vehicles entering and leaving industrial estates. Preventing overloading is considered far more cost-effective than repeatedly repairing prematurely damaged roads.
Implications for Infrastructure Policy
The research provides strong evidence that controlling heavy vehicle loads is one of the most effective strategies for extending pavement life and reducing maintenance expenditures. For local governments, the findings offer a data-driven foundation for prioritizing maintenance budgets and implementing preventive road management programs. For the logistics and industrial sectors, the study serves as a reminder that compliance with axle-load regulations is essential not only for legal reasons but also for maintaining the transportation infrastructure that supports economic growth.
Author Profile
Yeyen Dwi Affri Rahmandhani is an academic and researcher at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, specializing in civil engineering, pavement management, and transportation systems. This study was conducted in collaboration with Risma Marleno and Laksono Djoko Nugroho, who are also affiliated with Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya and actively involved in transportation infrastructure and highway engineering research.
Research Source
Article Title: Traffic Load Impact on Pavement Condition Deterioration Using PCI Method: A Case Study of Taman–Waru Road, Sidoarjo Regency, Indonesia
Authors: Yeyen Dwi Affri Rahmandhani, Risma Marleno, Laksono Djoko Nugroho
Affiliation: Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, Indonesia
Journal: International Journal of Integrative Research (IJIR)
Volume and Issue: Volume 4, Issue 4
Year of Publication: 2026
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