Design of local roadway infrastructure to service sustainable energy facilities

Background: This paper aims to identify specific local roadway infrastructure design guidelines associated with the construction and operation of sustainable energy source facilities, such as ethanol plants, biomass plants, and wind farm facilities. Methods: Data associated with sustainable energy facility traffic in Indiana were collected to develop Excel-based tools (worksheets) and assist local agencies in the design of pavements in the proximity of ethanol plants, biomass plants, and wind farms. Results: To that end, a simple procedure is presented, which provides a design capable of withstanding heavy traffic loads, while, at the same time, quantifies the effects that new sustainable energy source facilities may have on local road networks. The procedure is accompanied by two MS Excel-based software tools that can be used in the design of local roads adjacent to such sustainable energy facilities. Conclusions: The developed worksheets can serve as a hands-on tool to assist local government engineers in evaluating and in quantifying the probable effects of the construction and operation of a sustainable energy facility in their jurisdiction.