New techs utilization for road construction leads to technical, financial benefits: NHA

ISLAMABAD: The utilization of new technologies presently for construction, maintenance and  rehabilitation by National Highway Authority (NHA) has led to  technical benefits and financial advantages of varied nature  to the country.

These advantages are assessed and quantified through  detailed research and trial projects.

Sources at Communication Division on Wednesday said over  course of time and with help of ongoing research throughout the  world, miscellaneous new technologies have been assessed  in Pakistan for maintenance and construction of national  highways.

The few technologies listed as under are Hot &  Cold Recycling of Asphalt Concrete Pavements, Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB), Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen  (CRMB), Stone Mastic Asphalt Technology (SMA),  Rigid Pavement Technology, sometimes also referred  as Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP) and Cement  Treated base stabilized base course Technology.

The sources said the conventional raw materials and  technologies used presently to construct pavements in  Pakistan do have considerable sustainability to exist for  long time and added basic raw materials for construction  of road pavements are almost similar throughout the world.

The variable factors are environmental conditions and  Axle loads which directly affect performance and  service life of road pavements.

Conventional materials are modified after considering  local field conditions and conducting research activities  in order to build more economical roads.

The sources said new technologies lead to technical  benefits and financial advantages. A Five-Year Action Plan for Technical Cooperation on Highways between  China and Pakistan that includes joint research projects has  been signed.

The bilateral parties agreed to take up joint research  projects in the action plan to assess need and advantages of  new advancement in design and construction of roads under  local field conditions.

Moreover, the sources said multiple steps are also being  taken by National Highway Authority to introduce new  technologies and materials in construction of national roads in order to make safer and economical roads with sustainable  long life.

A few of which include: NHA has taken initiatives of  experimenting Hot & Cold Recycling of Asphalt Pavements,  Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB), Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen  and Cement Treated base Technology etc. on certain sections of National highways and Motorways in the past.

The Authority has established a well-equipped Highway  Research & Training Center (HRTC) in Burhan to carry out  advanced research as well as conduct trainings on development  and introduction of new technologies in construction of roads.

NHA also arranges and organizes different seminars, technical workshops, and presentations on road sector from time-to-time which provide the participants with an opportunity to gain orientation and exposure to the latest technologies and advance materials being used by developed countries in construction of roads.