Improvement of Muko-Rubuguri Nkuringo Road from Class C Gravel Road to Class III Bituminous surfaced standard design of section 000 to 41+000

Abstract

Context: This project aims at designing a sound pavement structure with materials of appropriate thickness which can effectively support the axle loading applied by the prevailing traffic conditions for 1km stretch of 41km long, gravel unpaved Muko Via Rubuguri to Nkuringo road. The main design step will be Traffic Assessment, Subgrade Strength Assessment, Selection of Materials and Layer thickness to provide satisfactory services over the design life of the pavement using URDM (2010), and the TRL overseas road notes as design Standards. Problem: Feasibility study carried out on the road reveals presence of heavy goods commercial vehicles ,reduced riding surface (gravel), route guidance for bad road geometry sections, longitudinal cracks approximately 0.5 meter long, broken road edges approximately 0.5km long, potholes of approximately 0.14m3 in size dust pollution from silting and road edges with lack of and poor drainage at some sections. Objective: The benefits of upgrading will be realized in saving in vehicle operating costs, reduction in road, maintenance costs, reduced travel time, reduction in road accidents and improvement of the economy facilitating increased accessibility which can enhance trade along the route also this will be connecting Uganda to DRC through Nkuringo / Kirundo boarder. Methodology: Using manual traffic counts carried out for several days and using data obtained from Ministry of Works and Transport {M O W $ T). Findings: Traffic and data reveals that the higher flow are between 5:00-6:00 and traffic loading between 7:00-11:00. Lowest recording hours 10:00-5:00. Recommendations: There is need to do maintenances of roads before the develop potholes, proper selection of good companies who can do quality works in order to save the tax payers money. Conclusion: In conclusion, emphasis should put on companies who bid to work on roads so that they should have capacity to do quality works so as to reduce the highly deteriorating roads in Uganda.