Optimization of rural road network: balancing spatial spillover effects and network accessibility

To achieve the Rural Revitalization, China plans to undertake large-scale optimization of its rural road network (RRN). However, existing RRN optimization methods, typically modeled after urban road network approaches, focus on network efficiency while neglecting the spatial spillover effects on the urban–rural economy. This study develops a spatial econometric model with a time-varying spatial weight matrix, which is then transformed into an optimization objective function to create an RRN optimization model that considers both network accessibility and spatial spillover effects. The model is solved using the NSGA-Ⅱ algorithm, and a case study using villages as the smallest unit is carried out to demonstrate its applicability and practical relevance. The study finds that the RRN exhibits both positive and negative spatial spillover effects, which if ignored in RRN optimization may reduce rural economic vitality and undermine the urban–rural integration. On the other hand, technology investments are identified as primary drivers of rural economic development, while the impacts of capital, labor and land are comparatively smaller. Additionally, compared to static spatial weight matrices, using a time‐varying weight matrix more accurately captures the spatial spillover effects of the RRN. These findings provide decision-making support for optimizing RRN design and promoting balanced urban–rural economic development.