CONCRETE ROADS FOR LOW TRAFFIC VOLUMES

Brian Walker

BCP Engineers

Advantages Of Concrete Roads

• Ideal for emerging contractors

• Low capital costs on plant

• Can be laid on very steep grades

• Little or no layerworks required

• Low maintenance costs

Ideal for emerging contractors

Low Capital Costs on Plant

Can be laid on very steep grades - - greater than 25%

Little or No Layerworks

Low maintenance costs

Some Problems With Concrete Roads

• Incorrect aspect ratios

• Irregular shaped panels

• Settlement of fills

• Late saw cutting of joints

• Plastic shrinkage cracks

Incorrect aspect ratio of panel

- Must be less than 1.2

Irregular shaped panels

Settlement of Fills

Late Saw Cutting of Joints

Plastic shrinkage cracking

Other Types Of Concrete Roads

• Rollcrete

• Interlocking concrete blocks

Rollcrete

Interlocking Concrete Blocks

Some Concrete Road Projects

Wiggins Umkhumbane

Brooks Farm

Cato Manor

Westrich

Cost Comparisons Asphalt/concrete

S-B G2 Premix 25 Mpa

Conc.

Total

Asphalt R25 R28 R21 R0 R74

Conc. R0 R0 R0 R87.50 R87.50

Summary

• Lower maintenance costs

• Helping emerging contractors

• Low capital cost of plant

• Ideal for steep grades

• Can reduce the cost of drainage

• Reduced requirement for scarce layerwork material

How Not To Build A Road

• Inappropriate surfacing

• Combined withno maintenance