Experts have said for Nigeria to achieve its long desired road infrastructural development, it must embrace the use of concrete for road construction, which the AG-Dangote construction company Limited has been in the forefront advocating for.
The road infrastructure in Nigeria remains the backbone of its social and economic activities, as economic development is closely related to the extension and condition of road development.
Generally, roads are considered a country’s biggest public capital asset, as it can contribute immensely to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The experts said for Nigeria to achieve a national economic growth and development, an efficient road transport network has a critical role to play adding that good road network across the country would greatly make positive impact in our national life. It would facilitate opening up of the rural areas, enhance investment and socio-economic activities, reduce accident rate as well as promote international perception index of Nigeria; thereby attracting Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) which is critical to economic growth.
For this reason, AG-Dangote Construction Company and other experts in the built environment have continued to clamour for a change of strategy and approach in road construction and management.
The clamour is not without justification. For instance, experts say while concrete roads have a long service life of 40 years, asphalt roads last for 10 years. Aside their durability, concrete roads are more environmentally friendly compared to asphalt roads.
Concrete roads do not require frequent repairs or patch works like asphalt roads. Besides, advancements in concrete technology have reduced the cost of concrete paving while improving performance greatly. For instance, the average life span of concrete pavements is 27.5 years before repair, while asphalt pavements have an average life span of only 15.5 years before repair. Also, studies show that concrete interstate pavements cost 13-28 per cent less in the long run than asphalt interstate pavements.
Concrete roads do not require frequent repairs or patch works like asphalt roads. Besides, advancements in concrete technology have reduced the cost of concrete paving while improving performance greatly. For instance, the average life span of concrete pavements is 27.5 years before repair, while asphalt pavements have an average life span of only 15.5 years before repair. Also, studies show that concrete interstate pavements cost 13-28 per cent less in the long run than asphalt interstate pavements.
The AG-Dangote construction company recently urged governments at all levels and engineers to switch over to rigid pavement for road […]
