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What makes roads last?

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SANRAL is a state-owned agency responsible for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of the national road network. 

SANRAL is also developing a rating system that is dedicated for road projects and which promotes the use of sustainable best-practices in the planning, design and construction of roads.

Five factors influence the performance of a pavement (road surface):  

TRAFFIC: Traffic is the most important factor influencing pavement performance. The performance of pavements is mostly influenced by the loading magnitude, configuration and the number of load repetitions by heavy vehicles. The damage caused per pass to a pavement by an axle is defined relative to the damage per pass of a standard axle load, which is defined as an 80kN single axle load (E80). Thus, a pavement is designed to withstand a certain number of standard axle load repetitions (E80s) that will result in a certain terminal condition of deterioration at the end of its design life, which typically has been 20 years in South Africa. Roads are not designed to last 20 calendar years, but for axle load repetitions estimated to occur over a 20-year period. If the estimates are correct, a road could reach end of its life after only five calendar years.

MOISTURE (WATER): Moisture can significantly weaken the support strength of natural gravel materials, especially the subgrade. Moisture can enter the pavement structure through cracks and holes in the surface, laterally through the subgrade, and from the underlying water table through capillary action. The result of moisture ingress is the lubrication of soil particles, loss of particle interlock and subsequent particle displacement resulting in pavement failure.

SUBGRADE: The subgrade is the underlying soil that supports the applied wheel loads. If the subgrade is too weak to support the wheel loads, the pavement will flex excessively, which ultimately causes the pavement to fail. If natural variations in the composition of the subgrade are not adequately addressed by the pavement design, significant differences in pavement performance will be experienced.

CONSTRUCTION QUALITY: Failure to obtain proper compaction, improper moisture conditions during construction, quality of materials and accurate layer thickness (after compaction) all directly affect the performance of a pavement. These conditions stress the need for skilled staff, and the importance of good inspection and quality control procedures during construction. 

MAINTENANCE: Pavement performance depends on what, when and how maintenance is performed. No matter how well the pavement is built, it will deteriorate over time based upon the factors mentioned above. The timing of maintenance is very important. 

Ensuring bridges adhere to the highest standards

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At present, 93% of bridges are in good condition – a very high percentage considering that SANRAL has increasingly taken over the management of older provincial roads where safety standards were lower.   

The majority of bridges – including the 927 managed by SANRAL’s concessionaires – has been inspected since 2015. Where roads are upgraded or new bridges and culverts constructed, inspectors again ensure that standards are met. 

The national road network, including its bridges and culverts, is in excellent condition because of routine road maintenance.  

The almost 9 900 major bridges and culverts on the SANRAL road network undergo major safety inspections every five to six years.  

This is done by the Committee of Transport Officials, a team of inspectors with advanced experience in engineering, construction and safety standards.  

The majority of bridges – including the 927 managed by SANRAL’s concessionaires – has been inspected since 2015. Where roads are upgraded or new bridges and culverts constructed, inspectors again ensure that standards are met.  

At present, 93% of bridges are in good condition, a very high percentage considering that SANRAL has increasingly taken over the management of older provincial roads, where safety standards were lower.  

When older roads are taken over, SANRAL immediately starts with comprehensive maintenance and rehabilitation programmes to ensure the roads also comply with its high safety requirements.  

Strict rules for building bridges 

SANRAL applies strict conditions to the construction of bridges across its roads.  

Before the construction of a bridge, a consulting engineering firm with an experienced bridge engineer is appointed during the design phase.  

The consulting firm undertakes internal reviews of bridge designs, while on medium- to large-span bridges a tender is put out by SANRAL for a peer review of the design.  

The reviewing firm will also have experienced bridge engineers, who will undertake the review of the bridge design and any construction issues.  

In addition, SANRAL has its own code of practice for the design of highways, bridges and culverts.  

Emphasis is placed on the safe load capacity of the bridge. All bridges are built according to the Committee of Land Transportation Officials’ standard specifications for road and bridge works.  

A tender is also put out for an independent site laboratory, which will test construction materials.  

In addition, SANRAL appoints a consulting firm to undertake construction supervision. The agency also interacts with all involved in design and construction of a bridge throughout the process. 

KwaZulu-Natal road upgrades will boost national economy

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SANRAL has long recognised that the importance of transport infrastructure to economic growth creates opportunities for private investment in road development and management.   

Skhumbuzo Macozoma, SANRAL CEO, believes roads are the arteries through which the economy pulses. By linking producers to markets, workers to jobs, students to school, and the sick to hospitals, roads are vital to any development agenda.  

KwaZulu-Natal has two major ports in Durban and Richards Bay, and the expeditious movement of goods to the rest of South Africa and neighbouring countries is an economic priority.  

The upgrading of the N2 and N3 at a cost of more than R28-billion will ensure that the required infrastructure is built to resolve the traffic congestion currently experienced by providing higher mobility and increased safety.  

The N3 upgrade will boast a four to five-lane freeway per direction on an 80km stretch between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.  

The N2 upgrade will entail a four to five-lane freeway per direction over the 54km route between Amanzimtoti and Dube Tradeport.  

The N3 upgrades will solve bottlenecks between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.  

Fast-tracking empowerment 

To fast-track empowerment in the road construction industry, SANRAL signed memorandum of understanding with suppliers of construction machinery that give small contractors access to these to allow them to participate more meaningfully in major construction projects.  

Thus, new entrants will be attracted to the construction and engineering sectors, particularly black contractors, who will in turn grow their business and create jobs.  

SANRAL has long recognised that the importance of transport infrastructure to economic growth creates opportunities for private investment in road development and management.  

Public Private partnerships (PPPs) are an alternative means of financing and operating the national road network, with the costs being recovered through user charges or tolls. 

The mandate of the N3 Toll Concession which is to design, finance, construct, operate and maintain the section of the N3 extending from Cedara in KwaZulu–Natal to Heidelberg in Gauteng has seen millions of Rands being poured into refurbishment and periodic maintenance of this stretch of the N3 to make it operationally more efficient and safer.  

Roads are the arteries through which the economy pulses. By linking producers to markets, workers to jobs, students to school, and the sick to hospitals, roads are vital to any development agenda.  

Rutted roads will give a rotten economy. Hence, SANRAL will always ensure that our roads are right and proper to make South Africa grow and develop. 

This is an opinion piece by Skhumbuzo Macozoma, SANRAL CEO. 

Road innovation protects all

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The use of technology to promote road safety is very much aligned with the ‘Safe Systems’ approach adopted globally through the United Nation’s Plan for Road Safety. 

SANRAL will continue to play a proactive role in ensuring a road environment that is self-explanatory, forgiving and which provides for the needs of all road users, including pedestrians.  

Engineering plays an important role in road safety in South Africa. It serves no point to preach road safety to people if the very roads they are using are dangerous because of the way they have been designed or maintained.  

We need innovative engineering solutions and to show greater respect for laws to intervene in areas that are high-crash zones.  

Indeed, you may find that to reduce pedestrian deaths on a stretch of road all that is needed is a safe pedestrian crossing point.  

The safety strategy must be able to respond to that kind of challenge. A recent example demonstrates that better roads can bring about a safer environment and contribute to a reduction in the number of crashes and fatalities.  

Globally aligned 

The use of technology to promote road safety is very much aligned with the ‘Safe Systems’ approach adopted globally through the United Nation’s Plan for Road Safety. 

This approach also underpins South Africa’s National Road Safety Strategy. The Safe Systems approach accentuates the need for all stakeholders to accept responsibility for road safety.  

SANRAL will continue to play a proactive role in ensuring a road environment that is self-explanatory, forgiving and which provides for the needs of all road users, including pedestrians.  

Examples 

The R71 linking Polokwane with the eastern parts of Limpopo is well known as one of the busiest stretches of road in the country, especially during Easter when it carries more than 17 000 vehicles a day en route to Moria for the religious pilgrimage. 

SANRAL’s re-engineering of the road to Moria entailed the construction of a new intersection and a dual carriageway on the busiest stretch close to Zion City.  

A new pedestrian walkway was also constructed to provide members of the community improved and safer access away from the main road surface.  

Residents of Klerksdorp in the North West can look forward to a safer road environment with the construction of concrete sidewalks and kerbing, fencing off a section of the road, minor capacity improvements and drainage, as well as improvements to four existing intersections on the N12 near the Jouberton and Alabama townships.  

At the R1.14-billion Mount Edgecombe interchange, which was officially opened by Minister of Transport Blade Nzimande in October 2018, road safety has been improved with the implementation of directional ramps, cutting down the need for controlled signalisation and associated back-up of traffic onto the freeway, thereby ensuring safer free flow of traffic in all directions.  

Public transport lay-byes with footways connected to a pedestrian bridge crossing over the N2 have been constructed to ensure the safety of pedestrians.  

Also, high-tech lighting has been installed to ensure the whole interchange is properly lit at night for increased safety.  

The upgrading of a 33km stretch of the N2 between Mtunzini toll plaza and the Empangeni T-junction that has been the scene of several fatal crashes, began in March 2016 and is nearing completion.  

This entails transformation into a 14m-wide, safer dual–carriage highway, which will enable the key arterial road to cope with increased traffic volumes.  

The major overhaul of the entire stretch of the R573 Moloto Road, which has earned the title “road of death” because of the many fatal accidents there, will see several illegal access routes being closed off through proper fencing and new, safer walkways being constructed.  

The 160km stretch of road runs through three provinces: Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and is used by approximately 50 000 commuters every day.  

Road markings, including paint and studs, are being given priority attention countrywide, owing to many serious crashes occurring at night when markings are not clearly visible. 

SANRAL has introduced performance-based road marking contracts, as there have been too many instances where road markings have deteriorated long before their specified lifespan.  

Under this new system, payment is only made to the contractor once it has been ascertained that the paint complies with minimum standards over a length of time. 

SANRAL to apply sustainable roads rating system in road infrastructure delivery

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SuRF’s rating tool is set up so road authorities can set targets for relevant credits they wish to apply to specific projects for use by their service providers.   

Dumisani Nkabinde, Regional Manager – SANRAL Eastern Region, said: “The SuRF rating tool provides a unique focus on the socio-economic impact of road projects in the context of South Africa’s inequality, unemployment challenges, skills development and history of restricted movement.”

For the first time in South Africa, a rating system is being developed that is dedicated for road projects and which promotes the use of sustainable best-practices in the planning, design and construction of roads.  

The Sustainable Roads Forum (SuRF) rating tool allows road authorities to set sustainability intervention targets for their projects, and to start measuring and reporting them in a clear, transparent and aligned manner.  

The tool, which is being piloted on the N3 corridor upgrade between Durban and Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, provides a list of design and construction interventions, guidance for implementation and a unified method of reporting.  

It also introduces the concept of a carbon footprint and attempts to start quantifying the reduction in the carbon footprint resulting from the interventions.  

Dumisani Nkabinde, Regional Manager – SANRAL Eastern Region, said unlike similar tools in use, which predominantly weigh scores based on the environmental aspect of sustainability, the SuRF rating tool provides a unique focus on the socio-economic impact of road projects in the context of South Africa’s inequality, unemployment challenges, skills development and history of restricted movement.  

Nkabinde said: “Several attempts have been made in the past to set up rating systems for the broader infrastructure industry such as roads, dams, buildings, power plants and toll systems but these took a one-size-fits-all approach.  

“Thus, the roads industry in South Africa started pursuing a rating system which would be entirely specific to roads.”  

Royal HaskoningDHV undertook the earliest stages in developing a new localised rating system with support from SANRAL.  

“South Africa is playing catch up as countries such as New Zealand, America and Australia have had a rating system for many years.  

“In these countries, sustainability in infrastructure provision is enshrined in law. Their construction and consulting companies use the sustainability rating system as a business strategy and this gives them a competitive advantage over their rivals,” said Nkabinde, adding that South Africa should have adopted a mandatory rating system a long while back. 

SuRF’s rating tool is set up so that road authorities can set targets for relevant credits they wish to apply to specific projects for use by their service providers.  

These are then used for progress reporting purposes and final scoring on completion of the project phases.  

There are currently 10 mandatory intervention levels for “best practices”:  

  • Relevant environmental, social and heritage resources related permits obtained;  
  • Compilation of an Environmental Management Plan;   
  • Proper disposal of hazardous waste;  
  • Use of energy efficient plant;  
  • Initial and follow-up pedestrian surveys;  
  • Noise impact assessment;  
  • Early community engagement;  
  • Youth Skills Development (in-service training)  
  • Percentage of works reserved for labour intensive construction and targeted enterprises;  
  • As-built data reporting. 

Let’s be safe 24-7, 365!

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At SANRAL, road safety is always top of mind.

Skhumbuzo Macozoma, SANRAL CEO, said that from a technology perspective, SANRAL is constantly innovating to manage some of the dominant causes of crashes related to speeding, overloading and unsafe driver behaviour.

Being alert and aware should be of the utmost importance each time you are on the road.  

Sadly, road safety usually only crosses people’s minds during peak periods of seasonal travel.  

The soaring incidence of crashes and high road fatality rates dominate the headlines and give rise to fervent public debate. But, then, road safety awareness fades away. Until the next horrific crash.  

At the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL), road safety is a consistent priority.  

We take our responsibility for it very seriously. Our primary duty is to manage and maintain the country’s freeway network, but within this mandate road safety is one of the key pillars of our business.  

South Africa subscribes to the modern global approach to road safety.  

Known as the “safe systems” approach, it recognises that we can best achieve our objective to reduce fatalities by integrating safer roads, safer vehicles, more effective post-crash responses and sustained education and awareness campaigns.  

From a technology perspective, SANRAL is constantly innovating to manage some of the dominant causes of crashes related to speeding, overloading and unsafe driver behaviour. 

We recognise the fact that road users are human and that humans make mistakes. It is our responsibility to provide a forgiving road environment to minimise the impact of such behaviour. 

Through our education and awareness programmes, we endeavour to integrate road safety education into the curriculum of schools and to increasingly use technology and social media to encourage safe behaviour in all sectors of the population.  

This integrated approach is the bedrock of what we do, yet we are increasingly looking at technology to make our roads even safer than they are. 

This is an opinion piece by Skhumbuzo Macozoma, SANRAL CEO. 

Strong steps taken against overloading

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Weigh-in-motion (WIM) technology has been installed at several traffic control centres on major highways.  

Plans are in place to expand the network of WIM systems at strategic locations around bigger towns and at border posts.  

New technology introduced on the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) network enables road authorities to get accurate data on the weight of vehicles while they are traveling at normal speeds.  

This is a major boost for national efforts to combat the overloading of vehicles and improve the general safety of road users.  

Weigh-in-motion (WIM) technology has been installed at several traffic control centres on major highways.  

Plans are in place to expand the network of WIM systems at strategic locations around bigger towns and at border posts.  

Overloading is a primary concern for road users and traffic authorities. Overloaded vehicles contribute greatly to road damage and heavy trucks are more likely to break down on the road, resulting in traffic jams, delays and frustration among motorists.  

WIM technology 

Some of the elements of the WIM technology are embedded in freeway surfaces through inductive loops connected to electronic equipment.  

Sensors accurately measure the weight of the vehicle and transmit the data through fibre networks or satellite technology to provincial control centres or SANRAL’s headquarters in Pretoria. 

The network of WIM systems will be built to meet the high standards required for law enforcement.  

These standards are being developed and must be approved by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications.  

Once new legislation has been passed and the standards are approved, WIM will be used to prosecute serious offenders.  

The benefits of this technology are already apparent. Dangerously overloaded trucks will no longer be able to evade physical weigh stations by diverting to secondary roads and causing damage to surfaces not designed to sustain such loads.  

The technology will also improve the productivity of law enforcement officials and reduce the risk of corruption that might occur at weighbridges.  

The monitoring of vehicles at conventional weighbridges on national routes continues. During 2017/18, more than 1.78–million vehicles were weighed and more than 30,600 drivers charged for overloading.  

SANRAL also has eight vehicle-inspection facilities at major weighbridges, where 10,652 vehicles were tested for road worthiness.  

Of these, 30% failed to meet road safety standards and traffic police on site acted through the issuing of fines or the removal of vehicles from the roads. 

Ensuring safer roads

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SANRAL has played a significant role in updating the road safety component of the roads policy by integrating aspects relating to engineering, education and enforcement. 

Jason Lowe, the Head of SANRAL’s Road Safety Engineering Focus Group, believes poor historical spatial planning and pedestrian management has necessitated the need to accommodate Non-Motorised Transport.

The Roads Policy for South Africa sets benchmarks on all matters relating to road regulation, infrastructure, safety, funding and non-motorised transport.  

It provides the necessary overarching framework to ensure that South Africa’s roads are better managed and safer, and encompasses all modes of transport to deliver a sustainable approach to roads management.  

The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has played a significant role in updating the road safety component of the roads policy by integrating aspects relating to engineering, education and enforcement. 

Historical disadvantages 

Historically, national road guidelines placed their primary focus on motorists. This was because non-motorists were not legally allowed to enter the national road reserve. 

Poor historical spatial planning and pedestrian management has, however, necessitated the need to accommodate Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) users within the national road reserve.  

Minor focus was also placed on other road users.  

For most people in rural areas, walking is the only available option, even for transporting goods. Many people, especially in rural areas, live the experience of public and non-motorised transport daily, and sometimes throughout their lives.  

Addressing challenges 

SANRAL has worked on guidelines for Public Transport and Non-Motorised Transport to address challenges in accessibility and mobility, and to incorporate all road-users, including pedestrians and cyclists, safely into the national road network.  

These guidelines will contribute to redressing pre-democracy failures in infrastructure, such as poor pedestrian management; poor spatial planning, which sees high-volume pedestrian generators located close to the freeways; and the high number of schools located within 2km of SANRAL roads.  

There is a need for balance among freeway mobility, public transport and pedestrian accommodation, while ensuring the safety of pedestrians and other road users.  

More than 40% of the yearly fatalities on our roads affect vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, wheelchair users and cyclists.  

The updated guidelines are intended to make roads safer for these users.  

This is an opinion piece by Jason Lowe, the Head of SANRAL’s Road Safety Engineering Focus Group 

Young people, women encouraged to participate in SANRAL projects

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Interacting with the town’s business community was opportune for SANRAL to share information about its continuing role in infrastructure development, job creation and skills development. 

SANRAL recognises the critical role that it plays in the construction and related industries and is mindful of its impact to South Africans.

Deputy Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has called on young people, women and other previously disadvantaged individuals to participate in the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited’s (SANRAL) road construction projects, enabling them to contribute to the economy. 

The deputy minister was speaking to the business community at SANRAL’s flagship Taking SANRAL to the People programme in eDumbe, KwaZulu-Natal. 

“Working together with SANRAL, as the department we continue to ensure that all women, the youth and people with disabilities, particularly in rural areas, have access to opportunities that government offers,” she said. 

With high unemployment and illiteracy rates, the rural community of Paulpietersburg does not often have easy access to information about government services. 

Interacting with the town’s business community was opportune for SANRAL to share information about its continuing role in infrastructure development, job creation and skills development. 

The roads agency will also host a career expo in eDumbe in August. 

Transformation 

“SANRAL recognises the critical role that it plays in the construction and related industries and is mindful of its impact to South Africans. Through Horizon 2030, SANRAL uses the management of the country’s national roads assets to speed up transformation of the country’s economy,” said the deputy minister. 

Horizon 2030 was approved by the SANRAL Board in 2018; it considers key recommendations of the National Development Plan (NDP) and it is a proactive response by the roads agency to build a more inclusive economy. 

Echoing the deputy minister’s sentiments, Melba Geca, SANRAL’s northern region stakeholder coordinator, said accelerating transformation is in line with SANRAL’s transformation strategy, enabling communities to benefit on its projects. 

Monageng Mokgojwa, SANRAL’s eastern region stakeholder coordinator, said the roads agency has several Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with industry players in the engineering and built industry sector in order to accelerate efforts and open doors for black owned contractors. 

“The MoUs attract new entrants into the construction and engineering sectors, who will in turn grow their businesses and create jobs. They also demonstrate SANRAL’s resolve use its contracting and procurement processes to facilitate the growth of emerging contractors,” he said. 

SANRAL has signed MoUs with Bell Equipment, Barloworld, Wirtgen, Pilot Crash Tech and National African Federation for Building Industry (Nafbi). 

No fatalities on SA section of the N4 Toll Route this Easter

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One of the key contributors to a safer N4 this Easter was the TRAC N4 Easter Road Safety Awareness and Swift Response Campaign.   

Trans African Concessions (TRAC) is pleased to announce that there were zero fatalities on its South African section of the N4 Toll Route this Easter.  

There was also a considerable decline in accidents overall compared to 2018, even though record traffic volumes were experienced over the long weekend. 

Twenty-nine accidents were recorded on the N4 from Thursday 18 April to Monday 22 April 2018, which is a huge decline from last year’s 73 crashes.  

Twenty of these accidents occurred in South Africa and nine in Mozambique, where one fatality was recorded at the start of the weekend. We convey our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased. 

As expected, a major increase in traffic was recorded over the Easter weekend, with hourly counts at Middelburg, TRAC’s biggest and busiest South African toll plaza, reaching over 2 450 cars on Monday, 22 April.  

The Ressano Garcia and Lebombo border posts also reported busy conditions on Monday, however, traffic flowed smoothly at the international crossing throughout the weekend. 

Easter Campaign 

One of the key contributors to a safer N4 this Easter was the TRAC N4 Easter Road Safety Awareness and Swift Response Campaign.  

This initiative saw the bulk of Mpumalanga Emergency Services and TRACAssist teams stationed at strategic points along the route to reduce response times to roadside emergencies and incidents.  

Another contributing factor was the high visibility of traffic and law enforcement authorities throughout the 570km route.  

Their constant presence ensured that motorists were more road safety conscious and respected road rules and regulations.   

This achievement would not have been possible without the cooperation of road users and TRAC thanks all motorists for their efforts.  

TRAC believes that road safety is everyone’s responsibility. The N4 Toll Route will continue to become safer and better if this philosophy is applied by all who use it.