Infrastructure

Kwale Bets on New Road Technology to Cut Costs

Engineered Material Arresting System is cheaper than the traditional technique.

Updated on

August 1, 2017

Machinery at a road construction site. PHOTO | FILE

Kwale County has partnered with three European firms to introduce a new road-building technology that it hopes will fundamentally slash its infrastructure development costs.

The technology, which is known as Engineered Material Arresting System, entails the use of cement additives and sand – which is cheaper than the traditional tar and ballast technique.

Hemed Mwabudzo, the executive in charge of infrastructure, says the technology will start with a pilot at Mwabungo and expand to other regions upon successful implementation.

The project will cover 1km of the Lunga Lunga-Mwabungo junction and it will be undertaken by Swiss builder Kibag, Nano Terra AG of Germany and Champion Afrik Limited.

“This project is meant to showcase the most advanced road building technology, which can improve the quality, the durability of roads in the most cost-effective manner,” Mwabudzo said, adding that the project will not cost the county any money.

Roads built using the new technology are said to be waterproof and last at least 50 years.

Mr Mwabudzo said the method will “aggressively transform Kwale’s infrastructure”.