The great north road i.e., Nakalama – Tirinyi – Mbale road linking the city of Mbale to the capital, Kampala is set to be completed in a few months from now.
The 102km road has been under construction by Dott Services since April 2018 and the original schedule was set to be complete by May 2020 but Uganda National Roads Authority extended the schedule due to the heavy rains that ravaged the eastern part of the county in the past few months.
The Shs135billion road is not just a mega transport infrastructure but a link to the region of Eastern Uganda.
The Nakalama – Tirinyi – Mbale road will boost the economy in terms of trade, finance, logistics and tourism.
This road will assume a more proactive role in the development of the Greater Eastern Uganda.
The Nakalama – Tirinyi – Mbale road project is fully funded by the government of Uganda and supervised by Uganda National Roads Authority.
An Engineering Marvel
Designed to withstand heavy rains and floods, the road was built with a rock fill of upto 5metres in swampy areas.
This is aimed at making the road stronger even if the water levels go up.
With high quality Asphalt concrete used on this project, it is estimated that the road will have a lifespan of more than 15 years.
To attain the high-quality Asphalt concrete, the contractor, Dott Services Limited used a combination of two primary ingredients that is; aggregate and asphalt cement.
Typically, the aggregate constituted 90–95% (w/w) of the total mixture and the asphalt cement (asphalt binder) constituted 5–10% (w/w) of the total mixture to form the high-quality asphalt concrete.
The pothole free road and very smooth surface was arrived at not by mistake but by Dott Services’ great machinery and engineers who ensured that;
the material is compacted to the required degree by heavy, self-propelled rollers, producing a smooth, well-compacted pavement course.
The engineers also ensured that the paving or finishing machine places the asphalt concrete at temperatures above 107°C (225°F).
The material was also compacted before the temperature of the mix falls below 80°C (175°F) to achieve adequate density.
They also evaluated the subsoil to determine how much load it can withstand.
The pavement and sub-base thicknesses were designed to withstand the wheel loads.
The geogrids were also used to reinforce the sub-base and further strengthen the road.
Quality Drainage
Having in mind that the Eastern part of Uganda experiences floods during the rainy season, Dott Services limited prioritised the road drainage system to ensure the longevity of the road.
Drainage styles including ditches, storm drains, and underdrains were used to remove water from the roadbed, preventing it from weakening the sub-base and subsoil.
Road Guards and Reflectors
The Nakalama – Tirinyi – Mbale road being a busy one with some corners and ravines, Dott Services thought it wise to install road guards and reflectors at some spots to prevent vehicles from drifting into hazardous or off-limits areas along the road.
Dott Services
Dott Services Limited is a Conspicuous Engineering and Contracting Establishment registered and incorporated in October 1994 and it is fascinatingly a leading and local services provider in the construction industry in the East African region.
Dott Services Limited has undertaken many successful projects and they are one of the most trusted construction companies in Uganda.
Dott Services Limited mainly deals in bridge structure, roads, electrical and water projects.