One of the strong pillars of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration is road infrastructure. Before the advent of his administration, not much was happening in that regard. But today this sector has witnessed unprecedented revolution which has ensured the completion of scores of roads and others at different stages of construction.
This feat was recorded through the use of cement technology which is also known as the “Rigid Pavement Technology”.
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Cement technology, also known as “Rigid Pavement Technology” in road construction ensures the mixture of crush rock-based materials and other items to achieve a thickness fill and compaction to the level of 300mm. This is followed by a concrete reinforcement cast with 8mm to10mm-high tensil (mash of wires) reinforcement bars over the stabilised base before treating it with prime coat and asphaltic concrete. Though the cost of this technology is higher than those of the conventional construction methods, it is better because it strengthens the load-bearing capacity of roads. The technology has a sustainability guarantee of10 to 20 years. Cement technology is one of the technologies used in the construction of airport runways, tarmac and places with heavy loads like machines and equipment. The technology is a good solution for achieving sustainable roads in Nigeria.
According to expert positions, while vehicles consume less fuel on concrete roads, concrete roads do not get damaged by the leaking oils from the vehicles or by the extreme weather conditions like excess rain or extreme heat. It has also been observed that the use of concrete for road construction has the added advantage of not creating potholes or craters that cause wet weather accidents.
The desirability of rigid cement technology in this season of economic downturn cannot be over-emphasised. In the past we witnessed roads constructed that could not last one rainy season. We are currently operating a very harsh economy and it will not be ideal for the government to return to the roads which it had constructed before the next rainy season. These reasons and others justify the adoption of the rigid cement technology.
Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu sent this piece from Abia State.
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