The Ministry of Transport and Public Works is charged with the responsibility of providing adequate, safe and well maintained transport infrastructure so as to effectively contribute to the socio-economic growth and development of the country. In discharging its responsibilities, the Ministry uses the Roads Authority to execute its policy in the road sector. In this regard, the Authority is mandated to develop and maintain the classified road network to an appropriate standard. One of the major challenges faced by the Roads Authority has been the management of a large network of unpaved roads which have imposed a significant technical and financial burden on the organization. This is due, in part, to the use of non-renewable gravel resources which are being seriously depleted. For these reasons, the Authority initiated the development of a new Road Design Manual for Low Volume Sealed Roads. The design approaches included in the Manual are based on the body of local research information that has been available from previous research and investigations carried out both in Malawi and in the region. The Manual serves as a standard reference and source of good practice for the design and construction of low volume sealed roads. The aim of the Manual is to provide all practitioners with comprehensive guidance on the wide range of factors that need to be addressed in a holistic manner when undertaking the upgrading of unpaved roads to a paved standard. (Author/publisher)
Abstract