For the villages of Magowa, Paledi and Masekoleng , a surfaced road along the R71 between Polokwane and Tzaneen will benefit the local communities and also serve as a connector road for the entire Limpopo province.
Commissioned by Polokwane Municipality, the upgrading of arterial roads in Molepo Maja Chuene cluster (R71 – Paledi) will be carried out over more than one financial year. The project consists of the upgrading of approximately 8.4 km of road, with phase 1 (consisting of 2.4 km) having been completed in September 2009 (construction contract value of R5 484 565.25). The total length of road construction in phase 2 is approximately 4 km (construction contract value is R8 441 014.01), and the expected completion date is set for March 2012. The total length of the road that will be constructed at the end of phases 1 and 2 is 6.4 km, which leaves approximately 2 km of the total length of the road to be constructed during upcoming financial years. The villages of Magowa, Paledi and Masekoleng will benefit directly once the project is completed but, as the road will also serve as a connector road, the entire province of Limpopo may benefit as travelling distances will be shortened for some road users. Scope of works
The scope of works entails the upgrading of the existing road (from gravel to surfaced) between the R71 (road between Polokwane and Tzaneen) and the road between the R71 and Chuenespoort. The new surfaced width of the road is 7.4 m, consisting of the following layer works:
•13.2 mm and 6.7 mm double seal
•150 mm thick stabilised base layer constructed out of C3 material
•150 mm thick stabilised sub-base layer constructed out of C4 material
•150 mm thick upper selected layer
•150 mm thick lower selected layer
•fill layer (where required)
•150 mm roadbed layer.
Materials used in the construction of the road varies from locally-sourced borrow pits to commercially-sourced cement and bitumen.
Phase 2 of the project has presented its fair share of challenges, such as there being an area where the water table is extremely high and, as a result, the materials are over saturated. The solution to the problem is being implemented and comprises of a rock-fill layer combined with subsoil drains.
There is also the issue of the bitumen shortage in South Africa due to the fact that refineries are experiencing supply problems. The contractor, however, still aims to complete the project within the stipulated time allocated to the project.
The third challenge was the large Mika deposits that were found in isolated areas (and not detected during initial site investigations). The material had to be excavated and an approved filling imported and compacted to specification. PROJECT TEAM
Consultant Dombo Du Plessis and Partners
Contractor: Phase 1 Lawmak Consulting
Contractor: Phase 2 Gorogang Plant Hire and Construction
