Construction World November 2024

Rural road infrastructure NEEDS MORE ATTENTION

With South Africa’s road network playing a pivotal role in the country’s economic recovery and growth, proper planning and scheduled road maintenance in rural areas also need to be prioritised, says Ntsika Mhlanga, Route Manager at Zimile Consulting Engineers.

“With regard to the growing maintenance backlog, in our experience, the best way to reduce this, is through collaboration with provincial governments and local municipalities to plan and schedule these routine activities,” says Mhlanga. He proposes a system where road data for each road is captured and tracked per maintenance period, while maintenance activities are scheduled based on the needs of each road to ensure design and construction life span are reached. “The system should be able to identify fluctuations in road usage and assign road maintenance schedules aligned to a budget and a plan. We can also assist provincial departments in planning and road maintenance schedules”. “As responsible consulting engineers, producing quality upgrades for our clients, and with detailed planning, we are also able to incorporate appropriate designs, such as safety barriers and drainage systems to ensure safer roads with a longer lifespan,” notes Mhlanga. Most recently, Zimile conducted routine maintenance on a road in Piet Retief that was deteriorating rapidly as a result of use and heavy rains. “We are proud to have completed the maintenance activities on this road, which will increase the road’s lifespan and allow for continued economic activity in the region.” Mhlanga argues that addressing the challenges of rural road infrastructure is not just about improving transportation but also about enhancing economic opportunities and quality of life for community members. “The current state of many rural roads hinders access to markets, employment

H e adds that routine and periodic maintenance of the rural road infrastructure requires more attention as a significant portion of the country’s roads are gravel roads, isolated in rural areas with little to no oversight, and often, these roads are in bad condition which makes mobility difficult. The Department of Public Works’ National Infrastructure Plan 2050 alludes to this by highlighting that more than 80% of the country’s provincial roads are gravel, with only 1% being re-gravelled every year. This means that for every 100 km of the total gravel network, only 1 km is re-gravelled. “We know there is a commitment from various stakeholders, such as SANRAL and national, provincial and local government, who drive new projects, maintaining and rehabilitating existing road infrastructure. These investments remain critical and need to be executed to have safe roads for the benefit of the public.”

opportunities, and basic services, effectively isolating these communities and limiting their income potential. We should, therefore, continue to prioritise the development and maintenance of rural roads,” concludes Mhlanga.  ABOUT ZIMILE CONSULTING ENGINEERS Zimile Consulting Engineers is a 100% black-owned, multi-disciplinary consulting engineering, project and construction management firm. By embracing the dynamism that is in the built environment through technological advancement, Zimile Consulting Engineers seek to offer value-adding and innovative engineering solutions to South Africa’s infrastructure landscape.

33 CONSTRUCTION WORLD NOVEMBER 2024