Botswana-road-maintenance-manual-part-D

Abstract

The Roads Department is constantly striving to increase the efficiency and effectiveness with which the management and maintenance of the road network are carried out. This is motivated by the recognition that the country’s Public Highway Network of over 18,300 km constitutes one of the largest assets owned by the Government (estimated value in 2009 of 15 billion Pula), and that a less-than-optimal system for the management and maintenance of that asset, results in huge losses for the national economy. This occurs not only in the form of road deterioration and substantial reductions in road asset value but, even more so, in the form of increased vehicle operation costs which have to be borne by road users and which reduce the competitiveness of the country in an increasingly global economy. In exercising its vision ”to have world class roads leading to prosperity”, its mission “the Roads Department exists to enable provision of safe, reliable and cost effective road infrastructure in an environmentally sustainable manner” and its values “botho, transparency, accountability and integrity”, the Roads Department has directed the development of a series of Design Manuals, Guidelines and Standards of which the Botswana Roads Maintenance Manual (BRMM) is one. The purpose of the BRMM is to serve as a nationally recognised document, the application of which is deemed to serve as a standard reference and source of good practice for road management and maintenance by both public and private sector practitioners. The major benefits to be gained in applying the BRMM are the harmonisation of professional practice and the ensuring of cost effective execution of maintenance operations to appropriate standards. This approach will contribute directly to the preservation of the substantial investments made in road provision and facilitate the attainment of appropriate levels of service on the road network and, ultimately, preservation of the substantial investments made in road provision. The Manual, by its very nature, will require periodic updating to take account of the dynamic nature of developments in road technology. The Roads Department, therefore, would welcome comments and suggestions from any stakeholders as feedback on all aspects of the Manual during its implementation. All feedback will be carefully reviewed by professional experts with a view to amending future updates of the Manual.