Road Maintenance Standards

Portfolio Committee on Transport

15th March 2011
L Kannemeyer
Main Road Categories in South Africa
National Roads
Secondary Roads
Tertiary Roads
 South African Road Network

Authority Paved Gravel Total

SANRAL 16,170 0 16,170

Provinces - 9 48,176 136,640 184,816

Metros - 9 51,682 14,461 66,143

Municipalities 37,691 302,158 339,849

Total 153,719 453,259 606,978

Un-Proclaimed (Estimate) 140,000 140,000

Estimated Total 153,719 593,259 746,978

Un-Proclaimed Roads = Public roads not formally maintained by any Authority

Houghton

Eish !!!
How Did This Happen ?
Sunninghill
 Paved – Provincial + SANRAL

Type Year V-Good Good Fair Poor V-Poor

Length 2004-08 5,303 24,220 21,570 8,399 3,766
% 2004-08 8.38% 38.29% 34.10% 13.28% 5.95%
 Gravel – Provincial

Type Year V-Good Good Fair Poor V-Poor

Length 2004-08 1,981 13,863 35,344 33,219 19,327
% 2004-08 1.91% 13.36% 34.07% 32.02% 18.63%
CONDITION SUMMARY

Municipalities - Gravel

Metros - Gravel

Provinces - Gravel Very Poor (km)

Au th o rity

Poor (km)
Municipalities - Paved Fair (km)
Good (km)
Metros - Paved Very Good (km)

Provinces - Paved

SANRAL - Paved

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Percentage of Network

As they say in the movies – “Houston we have a problem”

Estimated Backlog (Strengthening / Regravel)

Strengthening/Regravel Backlog: Roads in Poor to Very Poor Condition

Paved Gravel Total
Authority
% Length Cost % Length Cost Length Cost
SANRAL 11.86% 1,932 R 15,456,000,000 0.00% 0 R0 1,932 R 15,456,000,000
Provinces - 9 22.79% 10,980 R 87,840,000,000 50.66% 69,216 R 13,843,111,157 80,196 R 101,683,111,157
Metros - 9 4.12% 2,127 R 10,635,000,000 8.48% 1,227 R 245,315,473 3,354 R 10,880,315,473
Municipalities 3.62% 1,363 R 4,089,000,000 28.54% 86,245 R 17,249,009,106 87,608 R 21,338,009,106
Total Backlog 16,402 R 118,020,000,000 156,687 R 31,337,435,736 173,089 R 149,357,435,736

Notes:
1.Based on actual condition data for only 37% of the network (used as estimate for rest
???) and some data as old as 2004 for some authorities.
2.The above backlog excludes backlogs related to periodic resurfacing of the network,
upgrade of gravel roads to surfaced standard, addition of additional lanes to alleviate
congestion and construction of new roads.
Budget Requirement versus Allocation

Estimated Maintenance Budget Requirement per Year 2010/11 2010/11 As

Maintenance Budget Per Year Allocation %
Authority Total Network
Sustain Backlog Total
SANRAL 16,170 R 9,248,616,000 R 3,091,200,000 R 12,339,816,000 R 6,844,501,000 55.47%
Provinces - 9 184,816 R 29,533,341,758 R 12,046,129,680 R 41,579,471,438 R 22,300,000,000 53.63%
Metros - 9 66,143 R 13,086,160,700 R 347,052,528 R 13,433,213,228 R 3,700,000,000 27.54%
Municipalities 339,849 R 14,037,274,500 R 389,727,300 R 14,427,001,800 0.00%
Totals km 606,978 R 65,905,392,957 R 15,874,109,508 R 81,779,502,465 R 32,844,501,000 40.16%

Notes:
1.Based on actual condition data for only 37% of the network (used as estimate for rest
???) and some data as old as 2004 for some authorities.
2.Strengthening Backlog addressed over 5 years, and regravel over 10years.
3.The above backlog excludes backlogs related addition of additional lanes to alleviate
congestion and construction of new roads.
 Why is it Happening – Pavement Design ?

Road Deterioration due to Traffic Loading &

100 Environment
Maintenance Actions
80 Good
R o ad C o n d itio n

60 Fair
Moisture Ingress
Poor
40
No Maintenance
20 Very Poor
(Typically Designed for Traffic Expected over 20-30 Years)
0
2008 2013 2018 2023 2028
Year
SA Pavement Design Requires Performance of Preventative Maintenance
Why is it Happening – Pavement Design ?

South Africa Northern

Hemisphere
Increased Number of Heavy Axles
Repetitions over 20-30 year Design
Life Waterproof
Layer

Local Street
Farm To Market

Typical National / Interstate Road

Why is it Happening – Pavement Age
Pavement Age Trend

100%

90%
National Road Network Length

80%

70%
(Carriageway km)

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
YEAR

> 25 years 21 - 25 years 16 - 20 years 11 - 15 years 6 - 10 years 0 - 5 years

Please Note: 80% of Network Older than Original 20 Year Design Life
Where is it Happening – Rainfall Zones

BEIRA
CHIPINGE
FRANCISTOWN

WINDHOEK MESSINA

WALVISBAY
TZANEEN
GABORONE

PRETORIA
ZEERUST
JOHANNESBURG
MAPUTO
KLERKSDORP
KEETMANSHOOP
VOLKSRUST

BLOEMFONTEIN LADYSMITH

WEPENER
DURBAN
ROUXVILLE PORT SHEPSTONE

SOMERSET
WEST
CERES Wet (>1000 mm/yr)
OUDTSHOORN EAST LONDON
CAPE TOWN Moderate (500 – 1000)
PORT ELIZABETH
MOSSEL BAY
Dry (< 500 mm/yr)
Birth/Rebirth of a Pothole ?

New Road - Deterioration over

time due to Traffic Loading &
Environment

NO Preventative Maintenance
- Crack Sealing
- Cleaning Drainage Structures
- Cutting of Grass
What Is The Solution – Automatic Pothole Patching?

Nooooooo….
Potholes are the symptom
not the cause…
If we strive to become
best pothole repairers in
the world .. Then we
have lost the plot ...
What Is The Solution – Preventative Maintenance !

SANRAL Routine Maintenance

Cost
- Crack Sealing, Cleaning Drainage
Structures, Cutting of Grass
- R 4.50 m2 / per km / year

SANRAL Reseal Cost

- R70 – R130 m2 / 10 year

SANRAL Pothole Repair Cost

-R 700 – R1500 / m2

-SANRAL In-situ Recycle

-R 250 – R500 / m2
How Do SANRAL Implement This ?

„ Technical Specifications (Legal Words)

How Do SANRAL Implement This ?

„ Technical Specifications (Legal Words)

How Do SANRAL Implement This ?

„ Routine Road Maintenance Manual (Pictures)

How Do SANRAL Implement This ?
How Do SANRAL Implement This ?

„ Routine Road Maintenance Guidance Manual (Pictures)

How Do SANRAL Implement This ?
How Do SANRAL Implement This ?
 Conclusion?

• Road Network Problems

• Old Network - >80% older than original 20 year design life
• NO Preventative Maintenance done by most authorities (R4.50 m2 / km /
year) – waiting for potholes.
• If current budget allocations are only going to be spent on pothole repairs
(R700 – R1500 m2) then totally insufficient to sustain the network.
• Solution
• Must ensure adequate focus on preventative maintenance to prevent new
potholes – with associated systematic repair of existing potholes.
• All the guidelines manuals are available.
• Officials not always aware of existence or how to apply - Need to ensure
that appropriate technical skills are available at all government levels.
 SANRAL Website: www.nra.co.za

THANK YOU! “Where a road

passes,
development
follows right on its
heels”