Six new bridges and four new major structures (overpasses) will be constructed along Phase Two of the Polokwane Eastern Ring Road development which will align the N1-27 towards the south of Polokwane in order to ensure a more streamlined traffic flow on this very congested freeway. The N1 through Polokwane is the main route to Beit Bridge for entry into Zimbabwe and carries an enormous amount of consumer and freight traffic on a daily basis.
 
Rocla, part of the IS Group, was contracted to supply the culverts and interlocking joint pipes for this project due to its expertise in the local manufacture and supply of these specified products.
 
“This project commenced in December 2015, and is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2018. The N1-27 will become a four-lane undivided dual carriageway between 10.5km and 11.5km and a four-lane divided dual carriageway between 11.5km and 14.9km which will give preference to traffic flow on the N1-27 Ring Road” said Abri Lubbe, Site Agent for Basil Read the primary contractor.
 
“In addition, approximately 80 minor culverts are to be constructed on this ring road consisting of new culverts on the new road sections, on the extensions of existing culverts as well as replacing existing culverts with insufficient hydraulic capacity. The minor culverts are pre-fabricated culverts constructed on in-situ casted floor slabs. The sizes range between 900 x 600 Box Culverts (BC) and 1800 x 600 BC portal culverts and 2500x1500 SAR Culverts.
 
“Diameter pipe culverts of 900mm will also be constructed, and 900mm diameter median pipes (approximately 930m long) are to be constructed to address median drainage in cuttings” said Lubbe.
 
“We have worked with Rocla before on a variety of projects, so we know the quality of their culverts and associated products – it is very good. We required a broad spectrum of culvert sizes to cover vastly differing lengths as well as the appropriate interlocking joint pipes, all of which appear on the Rocla product list but had to be supplied to our engineer’s specifications and delivered to site as required. The competency of the Rocla technicians in assessing and assisting and advising us in the correct technology and product selection was extremely helpful to have on this enormous project. The Rocla pricing was very competitive, and it is one of the key factors that stood in their favour” said Lubbe.
 
Part of the Polokwane Eastern Ring Road project includes a bridge structure under the north-south bound B0260A with Ramp C serving to channel the river underneath and pre-cast SATS culverts will be installed due to the load subjected by the amount of fill that will be constructed over the culvert. An estimated 180 no. of 0-5m SATS culverts will be installed on Ramp C and 480 No. 5m-10m SATS culverts will be installed under the north and south bound carriageways. Lubbe added “We were faced with an excavation challenge on the R4540 Roodepoort bridge as blasting demolitions due to the tight location of the structure was not possible, therefore we had to excavate the road for 2.4m below ground level in order for our work to progress.”
 
“This is a very large project that has been badly needed in the Polokwane area for some time, and we were pleased to have been selected by Basil Read to work with them on it” said Sarel Pretorius, Rocla Sales Representative. “Some of the challenges faced so far on this project included accommodating the daily heavy traffic loads while work was in progress, and this was done with careful planning and re-routing in order to minimise the disruption to traffic flow.”
 
“I believe we at Rocla have such vast experience in major municipal infrastructure developments and upgrades that we were able to offer valuable assistance to Basil Read on this Polokwane Eastern Ring Road project and coupled with our technical and product expertise it is a win-win partnership” said Pretorius.
 
Rocla manufactures precast concrete infrastructural products through an extensive network of factories throughout South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. Rocla offers specialised pre-cast concrete products for as infrastructure, such as pipes, culverts, manholes, poles and various other related products.
 
Rocla is part of the IS Group of companies which includes Technicrete ISG and Ocon Brick.