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.

Table of Contents:
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