Civil Engineering January-February 2022 | Vol 30 No 1

26 January/February 2022 Civil Engineering S halen Jangali, a JG Afrika Technical Director of Roads and Highways and an expert in OPBRC, believes that there is more scope for other countries to adopt this model of contracting considering its many benefits. “OPBRC ensures quality design and construction of road infrastructure. This is in addition to facilitating the completion of road construction projects within the awarded price and adequate maintenance of the infrastructure after it has been built. There is a strong case for its deployment in other countries, including South Africa,” says Jangali. JG Afrika is among only a few South African consulting engi- neering firms that has broad knowledge in the field. This includes the company’s participation in successful road construction projects in Liberia under the OPBRC model. An important feature of an OPBRC is that any type of firm or business venture that has the necessary technical, managerial and financial capacity to fulfil the contractual obligations can be appointed to undertake the road works if this is permitted in the bidding document. This entity is responsible for designing and undertaking the works, services and actions that are necessary to achieve and maintain the service levels specified in the contract. These are defined from a road user’s perspective and may, therefore, include factors such as average travel speeds, riding comfort and safety features. GHANA PROJECT Jangali was recently nominated to lead the team of JG Afrika engineers – comprising 10 seasoned geometric and pavement design engineers – working on a large road construction project in Ghana that involves this method of contracting. These skills are complemented by those of representatives from Ghana-based OPBRC provides solutions to road construction challenges Output and Performance-based Road Contracting (OPBRC) is improving efficiency and effectiveness of road asset management and maintenance in various African countries. Ghana is the latest country to adopt this innovative contracting model to help solve the challenges encountered with conventional contracting models. The OPBRC is for selected feeder roads and farm tracks in the Upper West Region of Ghana JG Afrika, Taivani Consult and Attachy Construction were awarded Lot 3, consisting of a 225 km network of feeder roads