Mwaipungu, R.R., Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Durban University of Technology, South Africa; Allopi, D., Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Durban University of Technology, South Africa
Although the urge to construct new gravel roads to reach areas, which are potential economically is still there, it is now becoming clear to the road agencies in sub-Saharan Africa that a large proportion of the gravel roads constructed or rehabilitated between 2005 and 2008 years are no longer economical. These roads have reached their terminal stage due to various reasons, ranging from improper monitoring and maintenance needs assessment to challenges of getting the required funds for gravel roads conservation. Based on the above challenges, the sub-Sahara African countries, including Tanzania, are unceasingly searching for ways to strengthen the management of existing gravel roads network as part of roads transport infrastructure. To accomplish the above demand, Tanzania has two organisations concerned with managing its gravel road networks, namely Tanzania Road Agency (TANROADS) and Local Government Authority (LGA)'s District Engineer's offi ce. Each one of these two organisations uses its own road management system. TANROADS uses Road Maintenance Management Systems, and LGA uses District Roads Management Systems. These two systems have been developed through foreign aid in terms of experts and fi nancial assistance with minimal participation of local experts. This paper focuses on factors affecting the effi ciency and effectiveness of these management systems in gravel roads monitoring and maintenance needs assessment in comparison with those in developed countries. The authors expect that by highlighting those elements affecting the provision of accurate gravel roads inventory and road condition data will improve further the diagnosis of distresses infl uencing the performance of gravel roads, and come up with proper remedy to suit the local condition.©2014 WIT Press.
Conservation; Gravel roads; Highway bridges; Maintenance; Monitoring; Planning; Surveys; Transportation; Conservation; Gravel; Gravel roads; Highway bridges; Highway engineering; Highway planning; Maintenance; Monitoring; Planning; Roads and streets; Surveys; Transportation; Effective; Infrastructure; Inventory; Needs Assessment; Performance; Road condition surveys; Road mentors; effective; infrastructure; inventory; performance; Highway planning; Highway administration; financial provision; gravel; inventory; maintenance; monitoring system; performance assessment; road construction; road transport; transportation infrastructure; Sub-Saharan Africa; Tanzania