Gautrain Rapid Rail Link, Gauteng
Client: Scott Wilson
Scope of Services: Detailed design for all road works related to rail section DD4B
Completion: December 2009
This 15 km section contained over 10 permanent road closures with new turning circles. At 5 locations, the existing road crosses the new rail alignment and temporary deviations were needed for construction of overpasses. Ardeer Road and the dual carriageway Centenary Way follow an entire new alignment adjacent to the Heartlands property.
A Cut & Cover section of the rail crosses the N3 National Freeway at the Marlboro Drive Interchange and Marlboro Drive at Linbro Park. A total of 10 phases of temporary diversions were required to achieve the construction of the rail crossing of the N3 freeway and the interchange on ramps and off ramps. An additional 3 phases of temporary diversions were needed to achieve the crossing of Marlboro Drive.
Barberton Bulembu Road, Mpumalanga
Client: Mpumalanga Dept of Roads & Transport; Barberton Chamber of Business
Scope of Services: Design and supervision
Completion: March 2009
The upgraded route followed the existing road alignment, except in a few short sections where the road was re-aligned in order to improve the geometry. Widening of the existing road prism involved the widening of existing cut and fill slopes requiring significant retaining structures and reinforced earth. Stopping bays were built as viewing points for tourists. The base and sub base layers of the road consist of stabilised gravel material modified with crushed stone to improve strength and grading. New culverts together with side drains and channels are utilised for storm water management of the road. Safety improvements included extensive guardrails and geometric improvement.
R571 Komatipoort, Mananga, Mpumalanga
Client: South African National Roads Agency
Scope of Services: Design and Supervision
Completion: June 2010
Lidwala was appointed in joint venture with PDNA for the design and construction supervision for this project. The chosen remedial action included the following:
- Slurry texture treatment in the fast lane, slow shoulders and the ramps
- Insitu reconstruction and stabilization of the existing pavement
- Milling and replacing of the existing multiple seal surfacing in local areas
- Construction of a new and appropriate surfacing seal, and the alternatives are a single, or double seal, UTFC or a thin asphalt overlay
- Limited geometric improvements and widening
- Existing shoulders and open drains will be reinstated
While the above actions will cater for the medium term traffic, the pavement strategy provides for an overlay in future to carry the long term traffic load.
R33 Carolina, Belfast, Mpumalanga
Client: South African National Roads Agency
Scope of Services: Design and Supervision
Completion Date: April 2010
A detailed investigation was carried out to evaluate the structural capacity of the existing pavement. It was concluded that the pavement had exceeded its design life and that the base and sub base were severely overstressed and not able to provide short or medium support.
A detailed road safety assessment was carried out and it was concluded that the existing road conditions were unsafe regarding; current operating speed, substandard vertical alignment, substandard sight distances at major and minor junctions, substandard cross-section, at grade railway junction, drainage problems, severe rutting, unsafe bridge pedestrian and animal movement.
A detailed traffic investigation was carried out and it was concluded that the existing cross-section was inadequate for the medium to long term analysis period. 2.4m shoulders and a Road over Rail Bridge was recommended.
R35 Amersfoort, Morgenzon, Mpumalanga
Client: South African National Roads Agency
Scope of Services: Design and supervision
Completion Date: July 2013
Lidwala was appointed in joint venture with PDNA for the design and construction supervision for this project.
Matrolab Lidwala, provides the on site laboratory for this project.
This route may be best described as a medium to heavily trafficked road which forms part of the high importance coal haul road network. This road is a direct feeding road of coal traffic from the Bethal area to Majuba Power Station.
According to the findings of the design this is a major upgrade to new geometric standards which entails a full design scope. This inter alia includes:
- Pavement design/rehabilitation
- Geometric upgrade (Widening, climbing lanes and improved vertical alignment)
- Identification of borrow pits and hard rock sources
- Geotechnical investigations
- Environmental services
- Land acquisition
- Separate crushing of materials contract
Ga-Mashashane Provincial Road, upgrade from gravel to tar, Limpopo
Client: Roads Agency Limpopo
Scope of Services: Civil Engineering
Completion Date: July 2010
Lidwala Consulting Engineers was appointed by Roads Agency Limpopo to carry out the investigation, planning, design and supervision of the upgrading (from gravel to tar) of 27 km of Roads D1231, D3363 and D3371 from Mokopane to Ga-Mashashane in the Capricon District of the Limpopo Province.
This project, Phase1, comprised the upgrading of 12 km of Roads D3363 and D3371. The upgrading during this phase is a continuation in a northerly direction of existing tarred section of road D1231.The road when completed would link Mokopane and Polokwane.
The objective of the employer, Roads Agency Limpopo, was to upgrade the existing gravel road to a sealed surfaced all weather road forming part of it’s overall objective of improving the provincial road network and to also provide accessibility to the community of Ga-Mashashane.
The appointment comprised of the upgrading of 12 km of Roads D3363 and D3371. The upgrading during this phase was a continuation in a northerly direction of existing tarred section of road D1231.The road links Mokopane and Polokwane.
The employer’s objective was to upgrade the existing gravel road to a sealed surfaced all weather road forming part of the overall objective of improving the provincial road network and to provide accessibility to the community of Ga-Mashashane.
Mpumalanga Road Asset Management System, Mpumalanga
Client: Mpumalanga Department of Roads and Transport
Scope of Services: Provision of an electronic Road Asset Management System with a GIS interface and web access
Completion Date:
Mpumalanga has a road network of approximately 5300km and 8000km paved and unpaved roads respectively. This is estimated to be worth in excess of R20 billion. In 2008 Lidwala were appointed to develop a system that would provide inventories and condition data of all road related assets, including traffic volumes and classes. This included modules for bridges, pavements, traffic, etc.
The Mpumalanga RAMS is made up of a central database (Postgresql 8.4 with Postgis 1.5.2) containing the geographical location and attributes of all road links and associated data. Specialist modules for the various types of infrastructure such as pavements (dTIMS CT(R)), bridges (STRUMAN), and traffic (OVIS) are linked to the spatial database that is accessible through a web-based GIS (using PHP, Openlayers and GeoExt). Selected data and reports, such as strip maps, can be queried and downloaded on the Internet. By using traffic growth and condition deterioration models, the RAMS modules are able to simulate future network conditions based on different funding scenarios.
Mpumalanga Bridge Management System, Mpumalanga
Client: Mpumalanga Department of Roads and Transport
Scope of Services: Providing and maintaining an electronic inventory of all the road bridges on Provincial roads; Inspecting and updating the structural and functional conditions of the bridges; analysing and optimising the maintenance and rehabilitation needs of the bridges.
Completion Date: 2011
The Mpumalanga BMS implemented by Lidwala uses STRUMAN (developed by CSIR) to store and analyse inventory and condition data. By updating the condition data every 3 to 5 years, and using established deterioration models for structural elements, STRUMAN can predict the future condition of bridges. When combined with unit repair costs and budgets, STRUMAN can analyse the influence of funding on future bridge conditions. The BMS is thus an essential decision support and asset management tool for road authorities.
Mpumalanga has over 600 bridges on a road network of over 13 000km. Lidwala staff have been involved with the Mpumalanga BMS since 1999. In 2002 Lidwala was appointed jointly with Nyeleti Consulting to update and maintain the BMS until 2007. In 2008, Lidwala was appointed to establish a Road Asset Management System, which includes the BMS.