LIRA CITY: The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has explained delays on the Lira–Kamdini road project, assuring the Lango Sub-region that preparations for the commencement of road upgrade and rehabilitation are in advanced stages but work awaits clearance safeguards documents by the World Bank, who are co-financing the project with the Government of Uganda.
An internal briefing document for stakeholders by UNRA, seen by theKampalaReport.com, confirmed that the much-coveted Lira-Kamdini road was listed on the North Eastern Road Corridor Asset Management Project (NERAMP) as part of the Lot 2 section: Soroti-Lira-Kamdini, and dismissed reports that the road was abandoned in the process.
“The type of contract being implemented is not like the traditional contracting arrangements where studies are conducted before the implementation of the work is procured.” The signed contract covers the required studies, including environmental, social, and technical, and the execution of the work. Being a World Bank-financed project, compliance with environmental and social safeguard (ESS) requirements is key. No activity can take place without the World Bank’s clearance of environmental and social safeguards, “the UNRA briefing document says.
UNRA authorities also indicated that the design for the planned intervention, which is total reconstruction, is complete and that the contractor is sufficiently equipped and on-site to immediately embark on the work.
In the interim, routine maintenance is ongoing and has now resumed following the Christmas break that the contractor and his team took. Contractor machinery is seen in action at Alyat, 25 km from Lira City after Corner Aboke at Chainage, “UNRA stated, appealing to the public to continue observing the traffic management guidelines that have been put in place to enhance safety, enable smooth flow of traffic, and avoid accidents.
UNRA is required to hand over all pending required documents, including the ESHS, to the bank by today, Friday, January 21 2021.
ESHS includes documents related to the source of aggregates that will not require NEMA approval. They are for bank compliance requirements.
UNRA says NEMA clearance is already secured for the source of aggregates. Once approved by the bank, the contractor will be able to immediately implement the heavy maintenance work.
Planned work for Lira-Kamdini
A detailed plan seen by theKampalaReport.com shows that a total length of 56.775km with no geometric restrictions will receive an asphalt concrete (AC) layer of 75/85mm, a road base of 250mm, and a crushed stone base of 56.775mm.
UNRA says the existing base will be pulverised to create a sub-base of 150 mm (G45) strength.
The total length of 2.043 km with geometric restrictions will receive an asphalt concrete layer of 65 mm, and the existing pavement will be replaced with a 300 mm crushed stone base and a 250 mm G45 granular layer.
Another length of 1.275 km with geometric restrictions will receive an asphalt concrete layer of 45 mm, and the existing pavement will be replaced with a 190 mm bitumen-treated base (BTB) and a 200 mm G45 granular layer.
The plans also show that a separate total length of 6.427Km with geotechnical restrictions be added. The existing base is to be replaced with 150mm G45 with the addition of a new layer of CRR of 250mm and an Asphalt Concrete (AC) overlay ranging from 75mm to 150mm.
The contract provides for routine maintenance activities to be executed for the full contract period of 8 12 years, i.e., up to February 12, 2027. Over this period, according to the documents seen by theKampalaReport.com, the contractor is required to maintain the road at given service levels that are assessed every month.