Assessing climate effects on road transportation in warri and abraka, delta state, Nigeria

The study examined the effect of rainfall, temperature, humidity and wind on road transportation in Warri and Abraka, Delta State, from January to December, 2024. The study also tested the hypothesis that climatic variation influences road decline. The study adopted a longitudinal quantitative design which combined monthly Nigerian Meteorological Agency records with field surveys of 85 km of arterial, secondary and feeder highways. Field teams recorded monthly logs on surface condition, pothole density, delay, flood duration, cost and accidents. The results showed at P<0.05 a strong relationship between precipitation and several variables (pothole density, traffic delay, repair cost, and accidents). The Road Surface Condition Index dropped from 85 to 60 in Warri and 90 to 68 in Abraka during the wet seasons, while the number of days of flood increased to 7 in Warri and 4 in Abraka. Climatic factors together accounted for 98.5% of variance in the maintenance cost (F = 113.6, p < 0.001). The results establish moisture, influenced by rainfall, as the main driver and provide a verified basis for climate-adapted design for Delta State agencies. Suggested measures included redesigning drainage to accommodate storm magnitude, using moisture-resistant surfacing and planning maintenance according to rainfall.