January 2012

Construction World starts 2012 off with a feature on Roads and Bridges. National Route 12 (N12) is one of SANRAL's strategic priorities and it is here that civil engineering contractor, Raubex Construction, has been awarded the task of implementing a complete overhaul on Section 19.

The use cost-effective road materials technology with improved performance to cater for the extreme volumes of heavy vehicles entering in road construction - high-modulus asphalt (HiMA) - results in roads that last longer and need less maintenance, leading to fewer delays for road users. HiMA also decreases the life-cycle costs of roads and increases sustainability due to the lower use of non-renewable materials, according to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The construction of a 100 metre long bridge over the Hennops River forms part of a 22 month contract awarded to Esorfranki Civils for the building of a 4,2 km dual carriageway from Wierda Road (K103) past the Zwartkops raceway to Laudium in Pretoria West.

From left to right: Raubex will reclaim and stabilise the 300 mm sub-base in one go along the demarcated sections; a section of South Coast Road at the entrance to the Durban harbour is the scene of a full-scale trial of technology that leads to longer-life roads and Esorfranki is casting 36 beams, each 41 tons, in its precast yard on the R55 for the construction of a four lane bridge over the Hennops River.

Formwork and scaffolding company invests in SA

PERI Group, one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of formwork and scaffolding systems worldwide, has successfully negotiated the takeover of Wiehahn Formwork and Scaffolding.

Green Star tool for Multi-Unit Residential buildings

The launch of the next Green Star SA green building rating tool by the Green Building Council of South Africa, Green Star SA - Multi Unit Residential v1, took place at the GBCSA Convention and Exhibition.

Pietermaritzburg airport runway lands new technology

In recent years Pietermaritzburg's airport has lost popularity due to the growing dissatisfaction with the level of comfort on the Jetstream aircraft, the less expensive fare options from Durban, perceptions of unreliability, diversions to Durban and some fears about the aircraft's safety.

From left to right: PERI delivers formwork and scaffolding for the currently biggest construction site of the world - the Panama Channel (Photo: PERI GmbH); Brian Wilkinson, CEO of the Green Building Council of South Africa and Pietermartizburg's airport runway prior to major repairs.