The action used the COST Framework by gathering 18 European countries, from the north, west, south west and east, but may be lacking members from the center, of Europe. The individual members of the MC had different scientific background, pavement engineers, geologist, environmental scientists and material engineers. Although most of the MC members come from universities and research institutes, governmental bodies also had their representatives. The main objective of the action was to increase the knowledge required for improving the highway performance and minimizing the leaching of contaminants from roads and traffic. The secondary objectives of the action as stated in the MoU are: * to identify water movement and moisture conditions in unbound pavement layers and subgrade for different types of road constructions in various climatic conditions, * to investigate the relationship between the mechanical behavior of materials/soils and their hydraulic conductivity and moisture condition, * to implement finite element modeling based on laboratory analysis and field studies in order to simulate water movement and moisture conditions in road construction, * to identify, investigate and control contaminants leaching from soils, natural aggregates and by-products. All these items are dealt within the various chapters of the book “Water in Roads”. For example the first point in chapters 2, 3 and 4, the second in chapters 7, 8 and 9, the third in chapter 10 and the fourth in chapters 5, 6 and 11. Beside the book a 16 page summary report has also been published. This report gives a good overview of the problem and summarizes the main results. It will act as an appetizer for the real output from the Action, the book. While the summary report turns more to decision-makers and generalists the book will give an in-depth knowledge for practitioners, researchers and students. The two outputs, book and summary report, will make a very good complement to each other. Among the results from the action is that it stresses the significance of the impact of water on pavement performance. Although much research has been done on the matter, it is believed that there is much room for improvement of the engineering approach to the subject matter, taking notice of the major theoretical and analytical developments of the subject. Another thing stressed in the book is the consideration of measures for environmental protection in early planning stage of road construction. It is pointed out that flora and fauna at the roadside is polluted by various road and traffic contaminants. This should be looked at closer and might also lead to new and/or changed European legislations. It is the aim of the summary final report to stress the impact of the action. It is therefore important to specially ensure the distribution of the summary final report among policy makers.
