R40 resurfacing project a source of frustration in Mbombela

Motorists are still bearing the brunt of small stones damaging their windscreens as the resurfacing project on the R40 between Mbombela and Rocky Drift has proven to be one of shoddy workmanship.

Many motorists are demanding that the road needs to be completed soon as it poses a danger to drivers who make use of it after dark, as no lane markings are visible.

Those with cracked or chipped windscreens claim they have not been compensated, and insist that the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport speed up the process of their claims.

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The spokesperson for the department, Bongani Dhlamini, said they expect the project will be completed by the end of October.
Dhlamini told Lowvelder that the department is not responsible for payment of damages to vehicles on this stretch of road, but the contractor is. Claim forms can be obtained from the departmental cost centres throughout the province.

“The department is not responsible for paying claims. The construction company is the entity that will pay the claims. Our job is to facilitate the process of the claims.”

Dhlamini said road markings can only be done after the resealing has been completed. “We are urging members of the public to be patient while the construction is in progress, as it approaches its completion,” he said.

Lowvelder previously reported that the tender for the resurfacing of the R40 was awarded to Sizampilo Projects, which appointed Mrhuli Trading Enterprise, based in Thulamahashe, as the subcontractor.

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A qualified civil engineer with in-depth knowledge of road construction was asked to give his opinion. He requested to remain anonymous as he pointed out various flaws. In his opinion, there was never any need to reseal the road, and the only section he believes needed repairs was the few hundred metres past Penryn College’s turn-off. He said the process of resealing is a simple one and should only be undertaken when the existing seal shows signs of distress, such as cracking, ravelling or bleeding.

The road surface should be properly cleaned and all groundwork on the sides of the road, and any road surface repairs, such as potholes, must be completed. A fresh layer of sealcoat or tar primer is then added to give the road a clean topcoat. Once the road is fully level and all areas requiring pre-treatment cured, the next step involves laying a new thin layer of asphalt to assure a complete, uniform surface is created.

Here, the expert says, is where the uneven road surface emerged. He says the chipping machine, which lays the bed of aggregate and butane, was not working as it should have done. The surface should have been levelled with the use of a double drum roller.
“The many loose stones are proof of shoddy. The quality of the work is due to the contractor’s lack of knowledge of road construction,” he said.