Much Asphalt, one of the country’s leading suppliers of hot mix asphalt, was awarded the contract to supply 11 000 tons of hot mix asphalt for the reconstruction of Chapman’s Peak Drive.

The contract, valued at R4.4-million, was awarded too Much Asphalt by Haw & Inglis after it was put out to tender. It includes the supply of 6000 tons of Bitumen Treated Base Course (COLTO BTB) and 5000 tons of Continuously Graded Wearing Course (COLTO MEDIUM).

The company started supplying the hot mix asphalt on October 17 and expects to complete its contract by 13th December.

The asphalt is being used to rehabilitate the existing pavement, which has shown extensive failure, generally confined to those areas where the road was constructed on fill embankments. The failures comprise semi-circular cracks and significant subsidence of the road surface – typical of slope failure.

Seven kilometers of the nine-kilometer long road will be rehabilitated using the cold in-situ recycling method.

"Access to the site is quite limited and the transportation of the asphalt has to be carefully co-ordinated as there is only a limited space for trucks,’ says Garth Miller, branch manager of Much Asphalt’s Contermanskloof plant, adding that there are also strict environmental policies in place on site.

Trucks with oil leaks, or any persons caught littering or damaging the fragile fynbos lining the road, are immediately asked to leave the construction area and they face the possibility of huge fines. Access to the site is also strictly controlled and personnel can only enter the site by means of a special permit.

Says Miller: "Safety is of paramount concern to the main contractor, Chapman ’s Peak Construction Joint Venture (CPCJV), as is the fragile nature of the environment on site. Much Asphalt has taken this into account and we have planned our production processes and deliveries of asphalt around these considerations."