January 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
30
roads & bridges
UPGRADING STRATEGIC ROUTES
interconnecting South Africa’s
Northern Cape hinterland, Raubex Group entity, Roadmac Surfacing
Cape (Roadmac) is currently pressing aheadon fourmajor roadprojects
for the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL).
Three of these contracts are on Route 27 (R27), starting at Calvinia
and extending northwards beyond the town of Brandvlei. The total
incremental distance is around 210 km, split equally into approximately
70
km portions that are running concurrently, requiring precise proj-
ect planning and delivery. The scope of works on all sections entails
the strengthening and widening of the existing road surface, plus a
new reseal.
Roadmac startedon the initial Calvinia section some 12months ago,
with the balance of the projects awarded in set phases.Themiddle and
second section, awarded in October 2012, runs south from Brandvlei,
while the third travels 70 km north from Brandvlei to Verdoorst (Sec-
tion 10) and commenced in May 2012. Running parallel with these
projects is a fourth SANRAL widening, repair and reseal contract on
the N7 between the towns of Vanrhynsdorp (km 0) and Bitterfontein
(
km 80,42), which commenced in August 2012.
Upgrades on the R27 cater for rising traffic volumes, particularly
from heavy vehicles servicing industries that include salt and gypsum
mines surrounding Brandvlei. The current road width along the R27
is 6 m, which will now be widened by 1 m on both sides to include a
full width shoulder. The same design approach is being constructed
by Roadmac on its N7 project.
“
Our scope of works also includes the repair of failed sections using
in-situ reclamation techniques,” explains Dieter Rencken, Roadmac
Surfacing Cape’s contracts manager. (Roadmac forms part of Raubex
Group Limited’s Construction Division.) Sub-base layer works on both
the shoulders and in-situ repairs are being cement stabilised.
Road constructionmaterial is sourced from two hard rock quarries,
with on-site crushing and screening carried out by Raubex Group
entity, B&E International.
To meet these intensive contracts, Roadmac Surfacing is
deploying an extensive plant fleet. This includes the recent addition
of a Cat RM500 rotary mixer, supplied and supported by Barloworld
Equipment’s Bellville operation. This Cat unit is being deployed on
one of the R27 sections and there forms a key component of the
construction works.
Commenting on the RM500’s performance to date, Rencken says
that the unit has shown itself to be an excellent all-rounder in both
milling and mixing applications, particularly when facing tough and
varied ground conditions.
“
In this respect, the RM500 is well-suited to the challenging de-
mands placed on it, and we are achieving good daily advance rates in
line with the construction programme.”
Powered by a Cat C15 ACERT engine delivering a gross power out-
put (SAE J1995) of 403 kW, the Cat RM500 is Caterpillar’s flagship recy-
cler.Themachine has an operatingweight of approximately 28 145 kg.
“
Equipped with the 2,4 m wide Cat universal rotor, comprising
200
carbide-tipped bits arranged in a chevron pattern, the RM500
excels in reworking dense in-situ materials, cutting and mixing to a
maximum depth of 406 mm, and in the process achieves the highest
levels of material pulverisation and gradation,”says Christo Ihlenfeldt,
Barloworld Equipment Bellville Cat sales professional.
These and other technological innovations continue to drive
Roadmac Surfacing Cape’s road rehabilitation business model. The
company has experienced major growth over the past 10 years.
Recently completed milestone contracts include a 17 month repair
and reseal project on the N1 north of Laingsburg, involving around
100 000
m³ of in-situ recycling over a 70 km section.
“
Given South Africa’s matured road infrastructure environment,
the emphasis by national and provincial government departments is
on maintenance and rehabilitation, areas where in-situ recycling is the
preferred approach,”adds Rencken.“It is a fast and efficient method.”
●
New shoulders for
Northern Cape
Roadmac Surfacing Cape adds to its paving line-up on
an intensive rehabilitation project with the acquisition
of a Cat RM500 rotarymixer that is contributing to the
formation of new and safer road sections.
The current road width along the R27 is 6 m, which will now be widened by 1 m
on both sides to include a full width shoulder.
Roadmac Surfacing Cape’s recently acquired Cat RM500 rotary
mixer deployed on a section of the R27.
From left to right are: Christo Ihlenfeldt, Barloworld Equipment Bellville Cat sales
professional; Christie de Klerk, plant manager, Roadmac Surfacing Cape;
Charlie Backlund, managing director, Roadmac Surfacing Cape; and
Dieter Rencken, contracts manager, Roadmac Surfacing Cape.