Quality assurance and effectiveness of Labour based maintenance technology for gravel roads – A case study of Gulu district.

Abstract

Gravel roads play a significant role in the socio-economic development of countries in the global south. Labour based technology (LBT) is the preferred construction technology in maintenance of roads for resource poor countries. This technology is a method, which maximizes opportunities for the employment of labour with optimal support of light equipment. Since its introduction in Uganda in 1948, it has been used in maintaining roads. This study assessed quality assurance and effectiveness of LBT maintenance for gravel roads in Gulu District. The objectives were to (1) assess if LBT roads meet the recommended compaction standards; (2) assess whether the gravel roads in constructed using LBT meet the average gravel thickness and quality standards; and (3) to find out the cost effectiveness of LBT for construction of gravel roads. The study employed use of a DCP and Sand replacement tests on four purposively selected roads. Additionally, key informant interviews as well as questionnaires were administered to several respondents at the UNRA Gulu station, the District Engineering department, community leaders and technicians employed to work on those roads. The results indicate that gravel roads rehabilitated using LBT do meet AASHTO compaction specifications with CBR results at most test point being greater that the recommended threshold of 25%. Results of compaction indicated levels greater that 85%, the minimum set by standards. The average gravel thicknesses were within ±100mm as the set standard owing to the gravel loss over time due to traffic volume and the test having been done almost one year after construction. Finally, the study established that LBT roads are cost effective, which is in agreement with several previous studies. It is recommended to have adequate supervision of LBT road works to closely control the quality. LBT has been proved to be a good contributor in attainment of some of the goals of National Development Plan - III for the period 2020/21 to 2024/25.