Road Maintenance and Regravelling (ROMAR) Using Labour-Based Methods

Claes-Axel Andersson

doi:10.3362/9781780445809

Road Maintenance and Regravelling (ROMAR) Using Labour-Based Methods

Handbook

Written for the owners or managers of small construction businesses, the ROMAR books provide both the management and technical advice needed in order to make a success of routine maintenance and regravelling as a business activity. The handbook and workbook can be used together by reading the chapter in the handbook and then working through the examples in the workbook. The first part of the books deals with the principles, including technical consideration and appropriate construction technology. The second part looks at putting these principles into practice * how roads deteriorate and how to manage maintenance contracts, how to carry out regravelling projects, pricing and bidding for road maintenance contracts and how to build up detailed prices for a bill of quantities.

Published: 1996
Pages: 144

eBook: 9781780445809

Paperback: 9781853393488


PREFACE x
THE AUTHORS xi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xii
HOW TO USE YOUR ROMAR BOOKS xiii
SECTION A: PRINCIPLES
1. ROADS: THEIR PURPOSE, TERMINOLOGY
AND STANDARDS 3
Learning objectives 3
Introduction 3
The purpose of roads 4
Construction standards 4
Classification 5
Road works terminology 5
Cross-section terms 6
Drainage terms 8
Major structures 9
Principal standards for earth and gravel roads 11
2. APPROPRIATE ROAD CONSTRUCTION
AND MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY 14
Learning objective 14
Introduction 14
The market for small-scale road work
contractors 15
Technology options 19
Your choice 24
3. SOIL MECHANICS 26
Learning objectives 26
Introduction 26
How soil is described 27
Soils 27
Grading 28
Other characteristics 28
Soil conditions 28
The surface layer 29
Soil identification procedure 31
Simple field tests 31
Compaction 37
4. EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS 40
Learning objectives 40
Introduction 40
Plant for routine maintenance and regravelling 41
Maintenance and repair of equipment and
vehicles 45
Maintenance and repair arrangements 45
Maintenance organization 47
Workshop facilities, staffing and activities 48
Planning and reporting systems 51
Service schedules 53
Hand tools for routine maintenance and
regravelling 54
5. INTRODUCTION TO LABOUR-BASED
ROAD CONSTRUCTION 72
Learning objectives 72
Introduction 72
Site organization and support work 73
Organization and staffing 73
Site camp establishment 74
Site stores, equipment and tools 75
Employment of casual labour 77
Construction activities 77
Setting out: horizontal and vertical alignment 80
General 80
Description of measuring and control aids 81
Control of road alignment 82
Drainage and erosion control 89
Productivity 93
Low-cost structures 97
Gravelling 97
Alternative pavements 99
Planning and reporting systems 99
Example: construction activity steps 101
SECTION B: PRACTICE
6. ROAD MAINTENANCE 113
Learning objectives 113
Introduction 113
Mechanisms of deterioration of roads 113
Deterioration of roads 114
Failure of roads 115
Maintenance systems 117
Routine maintenance 117
Periodic maintenance 118
Emergency maintenance 119
Maintenance management 121
Introduction 121
Road inventories 121
Assessment of maintenance requirements 121
Setting maintenance priorities 123
Preparation of work plans 123
Implementation of maintenance work 124
Reporting and monitoring 124
Safety measures for work sites 125
7. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE 130
Learning objectives 130
Introduction 130
PART I. PLANNING 131
Organizing the work 131
General 131
Site inspection 131
Types of contract 132
The lengthperson system 133
The single gang system 135
The gang system 136
Planning and monitoring maintenance work 140
Priorities for maintenance activities 141
Work planning 142
Work supervision and monitoring 155
PART II. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
ACTIVITIES 157
Introduction 157
Activities 1-12 158
8. REGRAVELLING 180
Learning objectives 180
Introduction 180
The gravel layer 180
Organization and planning of works 182
General 182
Site inspection 182
Operational approaches 185
Tractor-trailer hauling 187
Lorry hauling 188
Animal-drawn carts 188
Site organization 189
Site camp establishment 189
Employment of casual labour 192
Gravelling operations 198
Improvement of quarry access road 198
Preparation of quarries 199
Road preparation 201
Quarry work 203
Hauling 205
Gravelling 209
Compaction 213
Planning and monitoring gravelling work 214
Advance planning of work 214
Site operation planning 217
9. PRICING AND BIDDING 224
Learning objectives 224
Introduction 224
Contract management 225
Contractor registration with client 226
Respond to tender invitation 226
Study the tender documents 226
Site visit 228
Cost estimating 229
Financing 232
Tender submission 233
Contract negotiations 233
Mobilization 233
Work management 234
Payment certificates 235
Monitoring performance 235
Training and manpower development 236
Disputes and arbitration 237
Pricing for routine maintenance contracts 237
Pricing for regravelling contracts 247
10. MANAGING PEOPLE 265
Learning objectives 265
Introduction 265
What is management? 265
Leadership 267
Delegation 268
Authority and responsibility 268
Sources of authority 269
Clear objectives 271
Asking the right questions 272
Know your work team 273
Communication 274
General 274
How to communicate 276
Training site supervisors 277
Motivation 281
Discipline and Morale 282
Incentives 284
Financial rewards 284
Coping with complexity 286
A helicopter view 287
Annexe: ILO Labour standards 288
References 293
Recommended reading 297