Rehabilitation of the Togolese corridor: The Grave bitumen on Tandjouaré-Cinkanssé

Since 7 April, the rehabilitation of the Togolese corridor has entered a crucial phase: the fixation of the grave bitumen (GB) has appeared in the works. It is undertaken by a team of Spanish specialists. This stage is already a source of hope for the users of this vital trade route.

With the pace of assurance required for any international road project, the Tandjouaré-Cinkanssé section is now in full swing. After the expansion and earth-moving of the axis and the construction and laying of the structures, the decisive moment came. This activity took effect at the final Milestone Point (PK) of the project."We are very pleased with the work done on the road. We have even believed that the bitumen ends like this but the company technicians have assured us that another aspect will follow to further strengthen the roadway."says Amédée Kwessi, a resident of Cinkanssé.

As of 26 April, the GB has already taken over the four-kilometre bypass in this city. It is also an achievement over three (3) kilometres of the old track. All in all, seven (7) kilometres. The final assault is well launched."Only the weather of the coming months and the possible mechanical problems are likely to disrupt the good timing of the work stopped by the company. We aim to minimize the impact of these two contingencies.", says Boudou, head of the"Coated Service".This foreground of bitumenage is led by the onzain Spanish specialists in this field. Two (2) finishers placed in parallel ensure the application of the ten (10) centimetres heavy bitumen over a width of ten (10) meters. Waiting for the five (5) centimetres by seven (7) metres bituminous concrete (BB) later. Rehabilitation is a long-term project.

They came with their own expertise, and not only have EBOMAF's state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, but they are also supported by its engineers and technicians. Conduct Philippe Abonès, engineer of Public Works, this team from very prestigious Barcelona company'Tecno firms'has been at work since 7 April with of course days of inactivity due to maintenance of installations and equipment."As soon as the road was announced, we were pleased that the Togolese authorities finally trusted an African company. It was even or double. It is true that the transporters, including me, frequently complained, at first, about the inconveniences associated with the construction site.

This is a matter of human nature because the advanced degradation has caused too much harm to the carriers we are. As we see today what this section will be tomorrow with this beginning of bitumen, we can only confuse ourselves. Low hat to the company in charge of the work. May God give him the strength to go to the end."Mori Konaté, a Malian truck driver, testified.

Since the arrival of the Spaniards, the coating plant installed in the life base of EBOMAF, a few blocks away from Dapaong, does not remain unemployed. It produces daily a thousand hundred (1,100) tons of serious bitumen that allows to"paint solidly with black"daily road on eight hundred (800) at nine hundred (900) meters.

"We can go beyond this given that the plant has not reached its cruising speed in terms of productivity. Similarly, the equipment we have for bitumen is of the latest generation. The working environment is also cordial", says Abounes.

Fourteen (14) dump trucks are currently assigned to transport the Grave bitumen. Their number is expected to increase in the next few days.

"In my opinion, EBOMAF has just been a big hit in the execution of this road project of great importance for Burkina Faso, my country and even the sub-region. For many Africans, the construction of a road is visible only when the tar, i.e. the black coated, begins to land on the track. The rest of the efforts to reach this level are completely ignored by the public », recalls Jocelyn Sampebgo, leaving for Lomé.

As the Grave bitumen shakes towards Tandjouaré, PK 00 of the project about seventy (70) kilometres from Cinkanssé, cement and impregnation activities are also progressing rapidly.

IE