Maintenance Interventions Tunnels: The Life-cycle Approach to Sustainable Management

Abstract: The deterioration of Italian motorway infrastructure requires continuous monitoring and optimized management with minimal environmental impact. This research applies the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate environmental impact as a key factor in selecting engineering solutions for tunnel maintenance, alongside technical and economic criteria. The study presents initial LCA results on a typical Italian motorway tunnel section, comparing three maintenance interventions for crack-type defects in concrete tunnels. The goal is to collect data on environmental impacts to support decision-making in tunnel maintenance planning, promoting sustainable infrastructure management while balancing efficiency, cost, and environmental responsibility.