Transport infrastructure – road, rail, shipping and air cargo – will be a vital ingredient of the free trade agreement that 26 Africans countries are rapidly finalising.
In early July this year, a preferential trade agreement was signed in Uganda between the Southern African Development Community, the East African Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.
Its aim is to boost intra-African trade, which is currently low compared to other world regions.
The state of roads in Africa are already a priority. The global roads body, Permanent International Association of Road Congresses (PIARC), also known as World Road Association, is presently focusing on African highway networks as well as updating design standards for rural roads.
These will be vital arteries in boosting intra-regional trade among the member countries, which have a combined population of 625-million and a total GDP of US$1.6-trillion (R212-trillion).
How SANRAL fits in
SANRAL plays a vital role in the World Road Association, a non-profit organisation established in 1909. It brings together governments, regional authorities, collective members and individual representatives from 122-member countries with the aim of promoting international cooperation on issues related to roads and road transport.
SANRAL, a PIARC member for the past 18 years, has a strong presence in the various working structures of the association.
At the helm of the South African delegation is SANRAL chief executive officer, Skhumbuzo Macozoma. He is also a member of the PIARC Council, which is responsible for governance matters.
SANRAL manager for Planning, Toll and Transport, Alex van Niekerk, is also a member and was elected to PIARC’s executive committee earlier this year.
He explained that the committee is responsible for PIARC’s administration in accordance with policies approved by the council. It is supported by three commissions – strategic planning, finance and communication – and the general secretariat, and it also actions recommendations by an advisory group on emerging issues.
“SANRAL’s participation on PIARC conferences and technical forums also enhances the development of the road sector in South Africa,” said Van Niekerk. “For instance, we are exposed to global industry best practices which in turn inform our adjustments to South African design standards related to the road sector.
“In specialised areas like bridges and tunnels, our PIARC experience does not only enhance the existing knowledge in South Africa but also contributes to the growth of the private sector through improved design standards, design principles and construction processes.”
He added that the work of the association is guided by a four-year strategic plan, which is aligned to the needs of member countries.
Activities and research of PIARC
For the 2016-2019 cycle, PIARC has packaged its activities and research under five strategic themes: management and finance, access and mobility, safety, infrastructure, and climate change, environment and disasters.
According to PIARC’s strategic plan, these themes represent a continuation of work that remains at the core of the body’s interest.
As such, one of the PIARC’s task forces is focusing on innovative finance, under the management and finance theme. It is currently working on identifying, reviewing, and evaluating alternative, available road funding and financing models which include tolling, public-private-partnerships, use of credit assistance tools and bonds.
“This work is particularly significant considering funding sources have not always kept pace with road investment needs,” said Van Niekerk.
In terms of PIARC’s focus on finding solutions for Africa, the African Regional Task Force is addressing two topics in this current four-year cycle: design standards for the Trans-African Highway network and updating design standards for rural roads.
PIARC task force at SANRAL tunnel seminar
This year SANRAL welcomes delegates attending a seminar on tunnels in October. Titled “Road Tunnels in Low and Medium Income Countries”, the seminar will feature speakers covering a wide range of road tunnel operation subjects from safety design and operations of tunnels, sustainable funding for safe tunnels and tunnel construction choices.
PIARC’s task force will be at the seminar covering case studies on The Huguenot Tunnel Project, which constitutes a major transportation link between the coastal plains of the Western Cape and the interior. The tunnel is one of the most strategic infrastructure assets of South Africa’s national road network.
The 3,9km long tunnel reduces the distance between Paarl and Worcester by 11km and eliminates a climb of some 500m over the Du Toitskloof Pass, which, by nature, imposes severe constraints and safety concerns for the road user.
A total of 19 representatives from SANRAL serve on various technical committees. These drive the study and development of knowledge in areas such as intelligent transportation systems, transport system economics and social development, environmental considerations in road projects and operations, as well as design and operations of safer road infrastructure.