On completion of this course, participants will:

• Identify the scope of responsibilities and authorisations to be met
• Identify the project objectives and confirm requirements of the site and operational activities
• Inspect and identify defects in and maintenance needs of the road network
• Understand project planning targets and implement changes as required
• Conduct ongoing monitoring and recording of on-site performance, including measurement of work output, and report on program achievements
• Prepare and monitor calendars monthly/annual maintenance programme and budgets.

Programme Outline   

Introduction to Construction

• Requirements of a good road
• Basic components of a road
• Road reserve explained
• Roadbed explained with visuals

Start of the Road Construction Process

• How to do road planning
• Road Worker Job Description
• Design for traffic loads and volumes
• Design for maintenance
• Materials required for constructing a road
• Clearing the pathway for the road
• Preparation of gravel roads
• Grubbing and stripping of topsoil
• Boulder removal

Road drainage & maintenance of stormwater structures

• Definitions of drain types
• Sub-surface drains
• Catch-water drains
• Miter drains
• Scour checks
• Culverts and their gradient and angles
• Installation of culvert pipes & other structures
• Stormwater Design
• Stormwater Maintenance
• Hydraulic Structures
• Erosion Protection
• Subsoil Drains
• Drainage Maintenance Summary

Completing the final layers of gravel road

• Off-loading of gravel
• Compaction of gravel
• Pave only when ready

Asphalt roads

• Asphalt Properties
• Paving asphalt is water repellent
• Asphalt used in road construction
• General Guidelines for Asphalt Construction
• Preparation of paving asphalt mixtures
• Asphalt Transport and safe handling
• Paver tractor and screed units

Safe working practices

• Road construction & Maintenance Hazards
• Physical Hazards
• Chemical Hazards
• Reducing the Risk during road construction
• Use of road signs in road construction and maintenance
• Flagging Guidelines

Pavement Design

• Pavement Types
• Structural design and pavement type selection
• Behaviour of different pavement types
• Design methods for paved streets
• Surface drainage
• Sub-surface drainage
• Service trenches
• Pavement cross-section
• Kerbs & channels
• Edging

Road Maintenance

• Road Conditions and Road Safety in South Africa
• Road Maintenance activities
• Classification of Maintenance
• Routine Maintenance
• Recurrent Maintenance
• Periodic Maintenance
• Urgent Maintenance
• Maintaining gravel roads
• Characteristics of Well-Maintained Gravel Road
• Gravel Road Maintenance problems
• Riding Surface
• Crown
• Washboard
• Potholes
• Drainage problems
• Methods to repair gravel roads
• Repairing Problem Areas
• Patching
• Grading of road surfaces
• Secondary ditches
• Grading Ditches and Drains
• Optimum Timing/Conditions for Maintenance

Principles of Asphalt pavement distress

• General Repairs
• Types of asphalt road maintenance
• Rutting and transverse cracks
• Edge damage
• Patches and potholes
• Patches & Pothole repair techniques
• Asphalt Surface patching
• Steps for Surface patch repairs for potholes
• Full-Depth Asphalt Repair
• Pothole repair failures

Painting road symbols

• Types of Road Markings
• Instructions for applying road markings
• Pavement Marking Removal
• Safety guidelines when painting roads
• Conclusion and group work

Road Construction and Maintenance Funding

• PPPs
• Difference between PPPs and other forms of finance
• Operation and Maintenance Contracts
• Finance documents and Security Documents
• Sponsor Support Agreements
• Project Selection Strategies and financial considerations
• Project Appraisals and Feasibility studies
• Credit Enhancement Techniques
• Essential Risk Evaluation Techniques