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Roads

Waste material used in roads construction

By: Anna Moross 29th October 2021 The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been involved in several new research initiatives geared towards providing alternative waste material products for use by the road pavement industry in South Africa. →

Need for skills development

By: Anna Moross 29th October 2021 The need for the development of skills and further education in the road industry is imperative, says South African Road Federation (SARF) operations director Basil Jonsson. →

An image of Basil Jonsson, the operations director for the SARF

BASIL JONSSON South Africa has lost many skilled civil engineers over the past decade, which has left a skills gap

Innovation implemented in road project

By: Anna Moross 29th October 2021 Consulting engineers firm WSP has used not only innovative technology in the upgrading of the National Route 3 (N3) project but also aims to ensure the use of sustainable materials throughout construction. →

An image of the digital design of the national route 3 project Mappings

NATIONAL ROUTE 3 PROJECT WSP has implemented a building information modelling (BIM) and digital design strategy during the design phase and will continue to do so in the construction phase

Advanced lighting management system for smart strategy

29th October 2021 Lighting manufacturer BEKA Schréder is proud to introduce you to the Schréder EXEDRA - the most advanced lighting management system on the market that paves the way for future applications in a smarter city. →

A image of the Schréder EXEDRA remote control platform

Schréder EXEDRA The new remote control platform for intelligent street lighting

Emphasis placed on supplying products to address industry issues

By: Simone Liedtke 30th October 2020 South Africa’s civil structures are in dire need of improved performance and longevity, hence building materials company AfriSam’s emphasis on supplying quality products that “go beyond current requirements”. Speaking to Engineering News, AfriSam regional product technical manager Nithia Pillay... →

PERFORMANCE PRIORITISATION
AfriSam is the pioneer of producing highly extended concrete without compromising performance parameters

AfriSam’s Nithia Pillay speaks about the company’s drive to supply products that address industry issues

Bank to play pivotal role in recovery plan

By: Cameron Mackay 30th October 2020 State-owned development finance institution Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is looking to accelerate playing a meaningful role in the economic recovery of the country by assisting in financing and implementing vital infrastructure projects for the transport sector, particularly road... →

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY The DBSA sees roads infrastructure and other transport sector infrastructure as key to stimulating economic growth and social inclusion

Federation contributes to upskilling, calls for new funding model

By: Cameron Mackay 1st November 2019 The South African Roads Federation (SARF) plans to have conducted more than 50 training and capacity development programmes by the end of this year to help build the necessary capacity in terms of capital, human resources and skills in the roads sector. The programmes cover a range of topics and... →

THE ROAD AHEAD A comprehensive plan, which would include the required funds and development of human capital, combined with a will to execute, could address the backlog of road maintenance

Equipment supplier eyes road rehabilitation contracts

By: Cameron Mackay 1st November 2019 Construction equipment supplier Bobcat Equipment South Africa aims to become more involved in projects with smaller and emerging construction contractors particularly those linked to either N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) contracts or local municipalities on urban road rehabilitation. For example,... →

PATCHING UP ROADS Bobcat aims to take advantage of significant road construction tenders in the next two to three years

Colas

29th October 2019 Construction Materials Upstream from its construction and maintenance business, Colas operates in the production, distribution, sales and recycling of construction materials (emulsions, modified binders, asphalt mixes) through its extensive regional net-work of emulsion factories, asphalt plants,... →

Smart, self-managing lighting the future for municipalities

By: Irma Venter 2nd November 2018 The time of humans controlling light fixtures is fading rapidly, says BEKA Schréder product development manager Daniel Kasper. “The luminaire will control itself; it will react and adjust by itself to the conditions around it. Soon there will be no need for light switches.” →

Colas South Africa

2nd November 2018 Colas South Africa is a company focused on innovative road surfacing products and technology. A subsidiary of the Bouygues Group, the international Colas Group, headquartered in France, is a world leader in the construction and maintenance of transport infrastructure, operating in 50 countries... →

Sanral 2017/18 project roll-out stalled owing to Treasury regulations

By: Irma Venter 2nd November 2018 The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has, in the past year, issued a total of 60 new contracts to the value of R4.9-billion for road construction, it states in its 2017/18 integrated report, presented to Parliament in October. However, this was significantly lower than in the... →

Bitumen supplier concerned about slowdown in road construction

By: Irma Venter 2nd November 2018 The rapidly increasing bitumen price is less of a concern to bitumen suppliers than the recent slowdown in South African road construction, says Colas South Africa commercial, communication and marketing manager Herman Groenewald. Bitumen prices have increased by more than R2 000 a ton since... →

Repairs on R510 completed

By: Irma Venter 2nd November 2018 The repairing and resealing of the R510, which runs from Rustenburg to the Limpopo border, has been completed. “The road is now much more comfortable for drivers and safer for pedestrians,” says the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral). →

Firm completes Soweto-based project

By: Simone Liedtke 15th December 2017 The design and construction supervision of roads, stormwater infrastructure and a bridge for the Elias Motsoaledi housing project, in Soweto, were completed last month, states Hatch Africa, Europe and Middle East highways and bridges practice lead, Leon Mbongwa. →

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES The bridge, for the Elias Motsoaledi housing project, comprises a five-span 65 m long and 13.5 m wide continuous composite deck

Maintenance, construction projects along N1/N4 slated for 2018

By: Simone Liedtke 15th December 2017 The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) and private concessionaire the Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire will conduct several maintenance and construction projects along the South African N1/N4 toll road, in Gauteng and Limpopo, in 2018. →

INCREASING CAPACITY
Bakwena has installed two pivots, each valued at about R2.4-million, at both the Doornpoort and Pumulani toll plazas

Photo by Duane Daws
INCREASING CAPACITY Bakwena has installed two pivots, each valued at about R2.4-million, at both the Doornpoort and Pumulani toll plazas

N2 rehabilitation project to be completed end of this year

By: Simone Liedtke 15th December 2017 The rehabilitation of 7 km of the N2 between Borcherds Quarry Road (M22) and the R300, and the addition of a third lane in both directions, will be completed by the end this year, under the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works (WCDTPW). →

LIGHTING THE WAY The upgrade will provide better ride quality, safety and visibility

Assistance in overcoming bridge challenges

By: Simone Liedtke 15th December 2017 Industrial rope access specialist Skyriders Access Specialists installed temporary access platforms to allow for critical routine maintenance on the Crocodile river bridge, in Mbombela, Mpumalanga. →

ABSEILING FOR ACCESS Technicians had to deploy rope access to abseil from a structure to erect the access platforms

Transverse launching method to minimise impact on traffic

By: Simone Liedtke 15th December 2017 A transverse launching method, which will be used on the completed Ashton Arch bridge in the Western Cape, will reduce the impact on traffic during the construction of this strategic route, states engineering company Aecom Africa highway and bridges lead Michael Bouwmeester. →

FIRST OF ITS KIND LOCALLY The bridge is the first tied-arch bridge that will be launched into position sideways

National road network at core of local growth

By: Simone Liedtke 15th December 2017 The national road network has been steadily growing over the years and this improves connectivity between cities and regional hubs, which is essential given that it is on this network that the majority of South African citizens commute and conduct business, says South African National Roads... →

LOCAL HUB The national road network has been steadily growing over the years and has improved connectivity between cities and regional hubs

Emphasis on infrastructure development catalyst for growth and sustainability

By: Simone Liedtke 15th December 2017 A development agenda themed ‘Vision 2022’, currently being pursued by the Swaziland government, is putting emphasis on infrastructure development as a catalyst for long-term growth and sustainable development, says engineering and infrastructure advisory company Aurecon bridges technical director... →

SIPHOFANENI BRIDGE The Siphofaneni bridge and road project is going to be the standard for future infrastructure projects in Swaziland

Construction firm forges ahead on N2 road, bridges

15th December 2017 Infrastructure construction firm Concor Infrastructure is making progress on the 34 km section of the N2 highway between Mtunzini and Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal, while ensuring minimal impact to environmentally sensitive areas along the route. →

JONATHAN PEARCE A range of environmental studies were carried out and remedial strategies were developed

Successful debut for new technology solution on bridge project

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 3rd November 2017 Marking a strong debut in the country, independent international engineering and project management consultancy Royal HaskoningDHV’s new iReport solution has been successfully used for the Vincent Tshabalala Pedestrian Bridge project in Alexandra, Johannesburg. The iReport is an innovative... →

ROADMAP Royal HaskoningDHV’s new project management solution, the iReport, used interactive data to communicate information to stakeholders for the Vincent Tshabalala Pedestrian Bridge project

Suitable solution for African road conditions

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 3rd November 2017 Geosynthetic products manufacturer and supplier Fibertex says its Fibertex AM-2 is the ideal product for road construction and road maintenance projects in Africa, owing to its being highly durable and resistant to all natural soil alkalis and acids. “The Fibertex AM-2 is a flexible... →

ROAD TO RECOVERY Fibertex AM-2 has been introduced to road authorities in several developing African countries as a cost-effective solution to road rehabilitation

South Africa steadily keeps pace with global LED shift

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 3rd November 2017 With the UK expecting that all conventional street lights will be converted to street lights fitted with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by 2021, manufacturer of luminaires and glass-fibre-reinforced polyester poles BEKA Schréder product development manager Daniel Kasper laments South Africa’s... →

STREETS AHEAD Light-emitting diode technology for street lighting provides improved lighting levels and generates energy savings

N7 upgrade enhances safety and set to facilitate traffic flow

By: Nadine James 28th October 2016 Civil engineering consultants SMEC South Africa recently successfully completed the R400-million National Route 7 (N7) upgrade, which included the realignment and widening of the road to improve safety and enhance traffic flow. Completed in April, the reconstruction project was carried out on a... →

NEW & IMPROVED The R400-million N7 upgrade was carried out on a 27.7 km portion of road between the Western Cape towns of Citrusdal and Clanwilliam

Industry body calls for elimination of lead in road marking paint

By: Nadine James 28th October 2016 Paint manufacturers organisation South African Paint Manufacturing Association (Sapma) executive director Deryck Spence has approached the national standards authority South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) to request that it reformulates specifications for the use of lead pigments in road... →

DANGERS UNDERFOOT Friction caused by vehicles tyres erodes the lead paint, which could result in pedestrians or drivers inhaling minuscule amounts of lead particulates

Government initiatives result in more road lighting projects

By: Nadine James 28th October 2016 The South African government’s drive to implement energy efficiency practices and maximise energy savings, along with its work with municipalities and State-owned power utility Eskom in the electrification of informal settlements and rural areas, has ensured that there are more opportunities for... →

DE HOEK PLAZA BEKA Schréder’s LEDlume-midi streetlight luminaires and its OMNIstar floodlights were used for the N3 Toll Plaza projects

R100-billion infrastructure investment enhances safety and mobility

By: Nadine James 28th October 2016 As part of the City of Johannesburg’s ten-year R100-billion investment in infrastructure, the city’s road infrastructure authority the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) investigated the state and quality of the 814 bridges in Johannesburg, and set out to construct and rehabilitate bridges in the... →

NALEDI-PROTEA NORTH BRIDGE Construction on the bridge that now links the two Soweto suburbs started in 2014

Funding, procurement for road infrastructure projects problematic

By: Nadine James 28th October 2016 The methods of acquiring funding, as well as the public procurement process for road infrastructure projects need to be re-examined, as current models are problematic, says civil engineering consultancy WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff Africa. WSP | Parsons transport and infrastructure divisional... →

CAUTION CURVES AHEAD Challenges pertaining to the country's economy, government funding and public procurement has made it increasingly more difficult to develop road infrastructure

M1 highway gets R210m facelift

11th December 2015 The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) will spend a total of R210-million to upgrade the M1 highway bridges and associated stormwater drainage systems, says the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA). The project, which started on November 16, forms part of the CoJ’s R365-million programme to upgrade the M1 and... →

Photo by Duane Daws
M1 HIGHWAY The M1 and M2 upgrades form part of the City of Johannesburg's 2040 Growth and Development Strategy

Award-winning KZN interchange eases congestion on N2

11th December 2015 State-owned entity the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) reports that upgrading the Umgeni road interchange, located at the N2 and M19 intersection in KwaZulu-Natal’s eThekwini municipality, has eased the flow of traffic for about 14 000 to 16 000 vehicles travelling through... →

FOUR YEARS WELL SPENT The interchange upgrade, which started in 2011, has reduced congestion and journey times, while increasing road safety

Only Tshwane municipality pursues ultrathin reinforced concrete roads

By: Dylan Stewart 30th October 2015 Since 2010, when the Tshwane municipality stated its intention to pursue the use of ultrathin reinforced concrete pavements (UTRCPs) specifically for roads in townships, it is the only municipality to have done so, says Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) project consultant... →

JOB CREATOR Building concrete roads requires little machinery and can therefore create more low-skilled jobs

Consulting engineering firm suggests tolling of regional roads

By: Dylan Stewart 30th October 2015 International consulting engineering firm Arup suggests a user-pay policy for regional roads as one method of generating revenue to build, maintain and expand the national road network. →

SA’s primary highway network as good as any, says consultancy

By: Dylan Stewart 30th October 2015 South Africa’s national highway network is comparable to some of the best road networks in the world, including those of developed countries, says KPMG infrastructure advisory head De Buys Scott. →

DE BUYS SCOTT While roads are critical to any economy, they are even more important in South Africa

LED streetlights installed in Western Cape

By: Dylan Stewart 30th October 2015 By June this year, the Swartland municipality, in the Western Cape, had retrofitted 69% of its existing streetlights with locally designed and manufactured light-emitting diode (LED) streetlights from luminaire manufacturer Beka Schréder. →

NEW LIGHT To date, over 4 000 LED luminaires have been installed in streetlights in the Swartland municipality

Preliminary design assessment of N3 highway upgrade under way

By: Dylan Stewart 30th October 2015 Infrastructure consultancy SMEC South Africa is assessing the preliminary design for upgrading an 11 km stretch of the N3 highway between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, in KwaZulu-Natal, says SMEC South Africa functional GM for roads and highways Dawie Er →

KEY CORRIDOR The N3 runs from Durban to Johannesburg

Design for Pietermaritzburg N3 interchange under way

By: Dylan Stewart 30th October 2015 Planning, engineering, and programme and construction management company WSP Parsons Brinkerhoff won a tender last month to design two new interchanges of the N3 in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, WSP road geometrics design head Bruce White tells Engineering News. →

BIG RESPONSIBILITY The interchange will allow for traffic to flow on the N3 as it crosses Epworth and Market roads in the south of Pietermaritzburg

Photo by Duane Daws
BIG RESPONSIBILITY The interchange will allow for traffic to flow on the N3 as it crosses Epworth and Market roads in the south of Pietermaritzburg

Editorial Insight

Urgent solution needed

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Dean Thompson

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DUSTBIN OF HISTORY

South Africa simply cannot afford a repeat of 2021 this year. Further delays in dealing with the country’s big problems of load-shedding, economic and social crime, vaccine hesitancy and, most worryingly, a growth rate that is too low to make a dent into chronic unemployment will set the scene for the type of deadly instability that gripped the country in July last year. Decisive policymaking and diligent implementation are the only ways to confine 2021 to the dustbin of history.

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