The review of sub-Sahara Africa gravel roads maintenance management system’s monitoring and need assessment : Tanzania experience

Abstract

Although the urge to construct new gravel roads to reach areas, which are potential economically is still there, it is now becoming clear to the road agencies in sub-Saharan Africa that a large proportion of the gravel roads constructed or rehabilitated between 2005 and 2008 years are no longer economical. These roads have reached their terminal stage due to various reasons, ranging from improper monitoring and maintenance needs assessment to challenges of getting the required funds for gravel roads conservation. Based on the above challenges, the sub-Sahara African countries, including Tanzania, are unceasingly searching for ways to strengthen the management of existing gravel roads network as part of roads transport infrastructure. To accomplish the above demand, Tanzania has two organisations concerned with managing its gravel road networks, namely Tanzania Road Agency (TANROADS) and Local Government Authority (LGA)’s District Engineer’s office. Each one of these two organisations uses its own road management system. TANROADS uses Road Maintenance Management Systems, and LGA uses District Roads Management Systems. These two systems have been developed through foreign aid in terms of experts and financial assistance with minimal participation of local experts. This paper focuses on factors affecting the efficiency and effectiveness of these management systems in gravel roads monitoring and maintenance needs assessment in comparison with those in developed countries. The authors expect that by highlighting those elements affecting the provision of accurate gravel roads inventory and road condition data will improve further the diagnosis of distresses influencing the performance of gravel roads, and come up with proper remedy to suit the local condition.