ROADS & BRIDGES
Rehabilitating Solomon Mahlangu Drive’s concrete pavement Raubex KZN is in the process of successfully resurfacing one of South Africa’s most strategic commercial links. The scope entails the upgrading of the M7 (Solomon Mahlangu Drive) between South Coast Road and the N2 freeway, with labour-intensive techniques and SMME training forming core components. By Muhammad Kader*
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he M7 is a major truck route extending from the Port of Durban to the N3, linking Gauteng and the Free State, and the N2 North and South. The road was not originally designed to handle the current volume of heavy motor vehicles, resulting in the rapid deterioration of the road surface. The road in question is currently undergoing structural failure through the concrete layer, as
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A word of thanks to the project team who proudly devoted their time to successfully deliver this project and prepare this article for our industry. • Contracts manager: Andrew Byrne • Construction manager: Wessie van der Westhuizen • Assistant construction manager: Muhammad Kader • Project manager: Sandile Khulu
well as the asphalt interlayer between the old (lower) concrete and new concrete slabs on the road surface. The design of the rehabilitation entails the removal of the concrete layer, as well as the asphalt interlayer, using the old concrete layer as a base on which to rebuild the road using EME 20 (High Modulus Asphalt with a 20 mm nominal stone size). Once awarded, Raubex KZN proceeded to compile a programme of works to encompass
PROJECT TEAM Contract No. 1R-35602 • Client: eThekwini Municipality • Client department: Road Provision, Road Rehabilitation branch • Main contractor: Raubex KZN (Pty) Ltd
