Civil Engineering July 2021 | Vol 29 No 6

is then completed with a surface of 20 mm Cape Seal with two slurries. AFRISAM ROADSTAB CEMENT SUPPLY It is critical that the supply of road stabilising cement is ready and avail- able when required, to support the scheduled roll-out of road construction activities. AfriSam trucks its specialised Roadstab Cement product to site from its Queenstown depot, which is supplied by train line from the company’s Ulco fac- tory in the Northern Cape. The nationwide footprint of AfriSam also allows it to service the project from its Bloemfontein depot, when necessary. The project’s stabilisation design requires a 3% portion of Roadstab Cement in the G4 sub-base. AfriSam’s All Purpose Cement is being applied mainly in the construction of culvert head-walls, blinding and other small-scale ancillary work. Taking a partnership approach to customer relationships, AfriSam is committed to a close working relation- ship with the RBX / RMSC JV team throughout the project, particularly when the stabilising processes are underway as ongoing communication is vital to en- suring a problem-free process. The dozen- strong team in AfriSam’s Queenstown office collaborates similarly to meet the pre-arranged deadlines. AfriSam’s corporate vision – to build a positive African future – is well served by projects like these, says territory sales manager Jared Russouw, who highlights the vital importance of roads in the coun- try’s infrastructure. Russouw also com- mends the support that the RBX / RMSC JV has demonstrated for local business and communities. The RBX / RMSC JV confirms that it has been a very positive experience working with AfriSam to date, saying the team has displayed energy and com- mitment. The JV site team will send its programme through to the AfriSam office to notify Russouw and his team when cement is required, specifying quantities and deadlines. This attention to detail has ensured there have been no delays, allowing roadwork to proceed as planned. BRIDGES AND CULVERTS There are two bridges receiving attention as part of the project. This first is the Swart Kei River Bridge, located at km 15.37 – the lower limit of the project route. On completion of the new bridge, the existing bridge is to be demolished. This will be a four-pier structure with two abutments. At km 25.4, the Klaas Smuts River Bridge will see its piers, abutments and deck being widened, and the bridge expansion joints replaced. New balustrades will be installed to a new standard. Four new major culverts will be cast in situ to replace existing major culverts along the route, while another will be widened. The existing minor culverts will be extended, and several new ones will be constructed, giving the route some 56 culvert systems in total. The box culverts provide important opportunities for local small- and medium-sized enterprises who conduct most of this work. To enhance the drainage in the new road design, concrete side drains are being constructed, as well as new subsoil drains. Kerbing and down chutes are also being constructed on high fills at guardrails to prevent damage to fill slopes. The predominance of the agricultural sector in the region has required that livestock crossings be constructed under the road or as under passes at four points along the route, located near staked km 6, km 16, km 28 and km 32. LOCAL SOURCING, SUPPORT At section 1 of the contract – which is at the end of the route near the Swart Kei River Bridge – there is a total of about 8 000 m 3 of cut and some 50 000 m 3 of fill, while Section 2 has roughly even quantities of cut and fill. Sections 4 and 5 comprise 23 000 m 3 of cut and 70 000 m 3 of fill. Commercial layer works – the G4 and G5 material as well It is critical that the supply of road stabilising cement is ready and available when required to support the scheduled roll-out of road construction activities AfriSam is supplying approximately 180 000 bags of Roadstab Cement for the stabilisation of the road’s G4 sub-base Civil Engineering July 2021 7