MORWANI NYAMWAYA MARK

F16/136589/2019

List of all the tests and relevant standards that are applicable for road pavement.

1. Determination of maximum dry density(MDD) and Optimum Moisture content(OMC).

2. Compaction test (Sand replacement method)
3. Carlifornia Bearing Ratio(CBR)
4. Pavement size distribution.
5. Atterberg test limits; Plasticity index, plastic limit &Shrinkage limit.

These tests have been followed and are carried out on each and every layer of the road, i.e;
BSG, TSG, Sub base and Base.
So far none of the tests have failed and they are within the roads design and specification. In
case one of these lab tests fail the following procedures can be followed;
1. Advice the contractor on the affected areas for retest. This can include reprocessing and
recompaction of the affected areas.
2. If the Atterberg test limits, Grading or CBR tests do not meet the road’s specification, the
contractor is advised to look for a different borrow pit/area.
3. In case of soil stability failure, stabilization is introduced, i.e; addition of cement to
improve stability and strength
4. In case of high plasticity, the contractor is advised to introduce lime to reduce the
plasticity index.

All these remedies are recommended by the Lab technician/material technician to the Resident
Engineer or Assistant Resident Engineer, who then choose the most suitable correction
measure and forwards them to the Contractor.

Challenges encountered;
1. Land encroachment.
This is the most major problem that we have faced so far. Individuals encroach the road
reserve for farm use and refuse to give it up. This has led to delays in construction since
due legal process has to be followed.
2. KPLC electricity poles.
Some electricity poles are on the road reserve and have to be removed. This is a
problem specifically facing the contractor. He isn’t willing to pay the legal fees to relocate
the poles. This causes the construction to halt at times as they try negotiate with KPLC
on the next move.
3. Late payments.
 The workers aren’t paid on time leading to internal work strikes. This causes work to halt
for a few days as the issue is resolved. The government has also been slow to release
funds which is another factor fueling the contractor not paying his workers.
4. High cost of fuel.
Due to harsh economic time, the contractor has been having problems fueling. Graders,
rollers, backhoe, distributers, tippers, water bozers and excavators consume a lot of fuel.
This causes the contractor to cut back on costs and ratio the amount of fuel use on a
daily basis.
5. Stealing of fuel
Some of the contractors workers steal fuel from his machines causing him to incur more
and more losses. This was remedied by firing the workers involved but it still is a
rampant issue
6. Rogue motorbikes and matatu drivers
Some motorbike riders tend to ignore the road signs placed and force themselves into
the construction site. This has especially been a rampant issue during priming. As soon
as priming is done, motorbike riders want to use the road immediately before a
protection of dust is spread on it

Below are more photos of the borrow area, an AC batching plant we visited and more
road construction photos;