Engineer and Road Construction Consultant, Ing. Kwabena Bempong, has identified water as the greatest threat to road infrastructure, stressing that flooding remains one of the leading causes of road deterioration and failure across the country.
Speaking on the impact of floods on roads and road construction, Ing. Bempong explained that although engineers design roads with drainage systems to minimize water damage, extreme rainfall and inadequate drainage during construction can still expose roads to serious structural challenges.
According to him, water has long been recognized in engineering as the greatest enemy of roads because it weakens the pavement structure and reduces the lifespan of road infrastructure.
“We have had some challenges like this before, but probably not to the scale that we are seeing on this route. Engineering-wise, there is common knowledge that water is an enemy of roads. When I say water, one would say there are three enemies, and the three are all water, water, water.”
Ing. Bempong noted that one of the first priorities in road construction is to provide adequate drainage systems to prevent water from accumulating on road surfaces. However, he pointed out that permanent drainage infrastructure is not always available at the initial stages of construction, making temporary drainage measures necessary.
“In constructing roads, one of the first things we want to do is provide adequate drainage but this drainage may not be available from day one, so you’ll find that we construct cross culverts to ensure that water from the sides of the road does not get onto the road. That is when you encounter some of the challenges you have shown.”
He explained that when water infiltrates the pavement structure, it weakens the underlying layers, leading to cracks, potholes and, in severe cases, complete road failure. He added that such occurrences are common on many roads, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
The road construction consultant stressed that while flooding-related road damage is a recurring challenge, it can be significantly reduced through proper planning and the timely provision of drainage infrastructure.
“By and large, this is something which happens on a lot of roads, but the whole solution, for me, is all about planning.”
Ing. Bempong therefore called on road agencies, contractors and policymakers to prioritize effective drainage systems in the planning and execution of road projects. He said integrating resilient drainage infrastructure into road construction would not only protect investments in the road sector but also reduce maintenance costs and improve the longevity of the country’s road network.
Source: Newspyramid.com
