Why is PVUDP patching roads that will later be asphalted?

Believe it or not, the road pavement in Port Vila is some of the best in the world. The coronous or coralline limestone pavement, which sits under the bitumen seal, is of excellent strength and load bearing capacity.

Port Vila Urban Development Project (PVUDP) has carried out hundreds of test holes to measure the strength and integrity of Port Vila’s arterial and sub-arterial road pavement and found it to be of excellent construction. It’s worth noting that the coronous structure below the bitumen is the most expensive part of the road.

If Phase 1 Roads and Drainage were to entirely reconstruct the existing roads and remove the road pavement, project funds would only stretch to about 4 km of improved road rather than 13 km. PVUDP Phase 1 Roads and Drainage has been designed such that the existing road pavement can be retained.

However, the bitumen seal is worn and needs to be replaced and the drainage infrastructure requires extensive improvements.

3 Stage Reconstruction Process: The first part of the reconstruction process is to patch the pot holes where needed and in some areas, such as Rue de Paris, to smooth away the excess bitumen to create a smooth road surface.

Any patching that is to be done will be “proved” or monitored for several months to ensure that the integrity of the road seal and smoothness is maintained.

This first stage also involves the clearing and inspection of existing drainage pipes to ascertain which pipes need to be replaced. The second part of the rehabilitation process will involve the setting of new drainage pipes, establishment of retention basins and sediment and pollutant traps. The contractor RMS will work primarily at night over a 16 day period in August to seal the roads. During this stage RMS will also start the installation of kerbs and footpaths and will work with UNELCO to establish additional street lighting.

The third stage of the road rehabilitation process will be implemented in 2017 and involve the laying of 40 mm asphaltic concrete to specific roads and the completion of line markings and road signage.

There will also be significant improvements to traffic flow and roundabouts.

The Government of Vanuatu in partnership with the Australian Government and Asian Development Bank (ADB) are funding the Port Vila Urban Development Project (PVUDP) as one of the major investments in Vanuatu’s capital.