CONSTRUCTION OF KIMOKOUWA WEIGHBRIDGE A SOLUTION TO ROAD DETERIORATION ON ARUSHA – NAMANGA ROAD
Overloading relative to legal load limits is known to be fairly widespread and is responsible for the significant acceleration in pavement deterioration. Overloaded vehicles causes serious damage to all road structures (pavement and bridge) and became a traffic hazard, especially failure of breaking system mechanism, bursting of tires, shifting of centre gravity and additional breaking distances involved.
The overloading has resulted into very serious and costly maintenance problem. And therefore preservation of this investment is inevitable. Good roads are important for social- economic development of any country and funds to construct and maintain roads to good standard are very limited.
The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania through its Agency TANROADS is implementing the construction of brand new Weighbridge station at Kimokouwa (Namanga) to control overloading in Arusha – Namanga road due to continuous undesirable overloading situation.
The Kimokouwa Weighbridge Project is located between Longido and Namanga road. It is about 15km from Longido town (95km from Arusha). It involves Construction Works, Supply, Installation, Commissioning and Provision of Operational training on two Brand New Weighbridge Scales and Weigh- In Motion Facility at Kimokouwa (Namanga ) in Arusha Region.
During an interview with Acting Regional Manager of TANROADS Arusha Eng.Obed Panga described the project by saying that “The project comprises a screening lane of asphalt concrete which is already finishedwith the following dimensions (6m wide 2300m length), approach lanes to weighbridge, two Weigh in Motion facilities, one main office, one sub office, two Public toilets, two Askari huts, generator house and utility car park, two impound yards, two Police booths, water supply from borehole, signage, landscaping and two static weighbridges.
He also clarified that “The pavement construction comprises of earthworks, 300 mm subgrade in selected material (CBR 7% - 15%), 150mm sub-base of C 1 quality and a 200mm reinforced concrete for approach lanes to static weighbridge, impound yards and vehicle access roads.
He further explained that “The project is fully funded by the Government of Tanzania. The Contractor of the project is M/s. CRJE (EAST AFRICA) LTD and the Supervising Consultant is M/s AMBICON Engineering Ltd JV GPES Engineering Limited.”
Construction of this Weighbridge will therefore enable TANROADS to exercise axle load control operation which in turn will safe guard the investment of roads along Arusha – Namanga road and this will make the Agency to utilize less/little budget on maintaining the roads. This will improve the country’s economy. The project started on May 11, 2021 and is expected to be completed on December 6th 2021.