Page 106 - RoadCem Manual - PCT BV

Sustainability in all aspects of road provision should now become the basis of a more demanding policy of users, governments and other clients. This will require that a practitioner adopt a more broadly based approach and pays full attention to all seven dimensions of sustainability.
There are a number of benefits to be derived from adopting the new RoadCem based approach advocated in this manual. These include providing roads that are:
• Less expensive in economic terms to build and to maintain through the adoption of more appropriate, locally-derived technology and design/construction techniques that are better suited to local conditions.
• Minimize adverse environmental impacts, particularly as regards the use of non-renewable resources (gravel).
• Increase employment opportunities through the use of more appropriate technology, including the use of labour-based methods, where feasible.
• Improve road safety in all aspects of road provision.
• Take better account of the needs of all stakeholders, particularly the local communities served
by these roads.
• Foster local road building and maintenance capacity through the greater use of small-scale, local contractors.
• Ultimately, facilitate the longer-term goal of socio-economic growth.
However, there are a number of barriers which will tend to frustrate the adoption of new and innovative
approaches.
A few of these barriers are:
• An inevitable and natural tendency to resist change. Because change hasn’t and the conservative nature of clients, practitioners and governments which tend to institutionalize this resistance
• The fact that many of aspects of RoadCem method may be in conflict with existing, often out- dated, country manuals and standards
Ultimately, the successful move from vision to practice will require endorsement at technical, academic and political level, as well as the full support of all stakeholders. In addition, it will require considerable technology transfer effort including:
• Support and technical assistance to facilitate the implementation of the RoadCem method.
• Updating country guidelines, codes of practice, norms and standards.
• Technical staff training to address potential internal resistance to change.
• Careful monitoring of acceptance, adoption, refinement and satisfaction amongst RoadCem users.
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