Route Koudougou-Dédougou : A work almost ready

Built according to international standards, the national road 14 (Koudougou-Dédougou) is being completed. Out of one hundred and thirty (130) Kilometers to be built and bitumen, there is only one section of a dozen kilometres left on which the sewerage works and pavements are already carried out. Although the contract period runs until 30 November, the successful contractor has set itself mid-October to complete the work.

The closure of the national road 14 (Koudougou-Dédougou) is a matter of a few weeks. The company Bonkoungou Mahamadou & Fils (EBOMAF), in charge of the work, is currently focusing its activities on the last straight line of the project, which covers only a dozen kilometres to be covered superficially. "We are really not involved in a race against the clock. We do not charge any delay on this site. We continue to carry out the work according to the timing contained in the specifications. The working methodology that we have set ourselves allows us to complete the infrastructure in mid-October, that is to say well before the contractual deadline", reassures Haruna Muhamed, Director of Works. A real downside is felt on the remaining stretch.

In the middle of the equipment and technicians that prepare the various floor layers in prelude to the surface coating, subcontractors deal with the last adjustments of the sanitation works. Sculpins and masons are almost finished. The road infrastructure linking the city of Bankuy to the economic capital via Koudougou is inevitably drawing to an end. To date, 89% of the works have been earthworks and 87% have been linear roadworks. "In view of the data on the work already felled, there are only about ten kilometres left to complete this work. This portion does not take into account the pavements that have already been installed," said Mouhamed. Approximately one hundred and twenty (120) kilometres of the one hundred and thirty (130) kilometres concerned currently meet the standards prescribed by the contractor.

It is a two-way, surface-coated road of seven (7) metres wide with 1.5 metres on both sides of the road and in the countryside. These dimensions are increased in agglomeration. The hundred and fifty (150) works of art and sanitation (bridges, dalots, etc.) are fully open to traffic. The great bridges of Tenado, Mouhoun and Lanfiera bear witness to a masterpiece. The fallout is enormous for riparian areas. In addition to the local labour force employed, infrastructure is built. The towns of Koudougou and Dédougou, as well as the towns of Ténado or Cheriba, have been equipped with water drainage systems. The town of Tenado alone benefits from two thousand (2,000) metres of girdle.

Under the supervision of Harouna Mouhamed and Salif Tarnagda, respectively Director of Works and Construction Operator, the final assault is launched with justified optimism. "It is necessary to depart from the judgments of lay people who cause confusion about the construction model of this road. It responds to the order of the contractor. All characteristics related to track construction are recorded in a specification. The company only kept it strictly. This is not a coating but a superficial coating after the platform, foundation layer and base layer have been made.

When we speak of surface coating, this returns to alternate bitumen of gravillons, the thickness of which varies between 1.5 and 3 centimetres. It is to look for lice on a shaved skull that want to find the same comfort of a road coated with a superficial coating," they said. The work is going well and all the technicians are confident that the end of the tunnel is coming soon. The significant progress already recorded in the construction of the section has a certain impact on the duration of the journey, between the capitals of the regions of the Boucle du Mouhoun and the Centre-Ouest. "We pray only to God that he will remove all obstacles related to the operation of the yard so that the work will be completed quickly. Already, we are satisfied with the result achieved. The signage is impeccable. The traffic is now pleasant and we win on time. Bakary Dao, truck driver, is delighted.

Road infrastructure with national and international requirements

Unceasing amalgams seem to call into question the quality of the roadway, the preservation of the environment and compliance with social laws such as worker safety. In the face of their recurrence, which was reached during the recent parliamentary mission to the construction site, the President and Chief Executive Officer (PDG) of EBOMAF is unambiguous: "The allegations heard here and there on the Koudougou-Dédougou road are regrettable. They have no basis and do not reflect the reality of the ground. When personalities are given the authority of the State to carry out an inspection mission on a work of such a size, they must be accompanied by technicians capable of enlightening them on certain purely technical aspects.

Counter-truths have appeared in their judgment and this can lead to incomprehensions where it is not worth it. The site has no problems. For a contractual period of up to 30 November, only a dozen kilometers remain to be achieved". Before adding: "The quality of the track is also affected by a view of layman. This road project was carried out according to the required technical requirements, under the supervision of an independent monitoring mission. It's funny to hear some recriminations. This road is built in superficial coating. This is not a coated layer where 10 or 15 cm of asphalt is required."

The design of the Koudougou-Dédougou road project took into account the environmental aspect. For one thousand six hundred and twenty (1,620) trees destroyed during the works, the successful contractor is called upon to replant five thousand (5,000) trees throughout the section. "The parliamentary mission did not take into account the remaining three (3) months. Reforestation is one of the activities to be carried out on this site. In such circumstances, trees are not planted for bulldozers to come and uproot them. This component occurs after the road has been completed. Five thousand (5000) trees are to be planted between Koudougou and Dédougou while we have destroyed only one thousand six hundred and twenty (1,620). We already have a nursery outside the town of Koudougou. A contract was signed with a claimant. We wait to finish some major works before we bury them. Reforestation is a contractual clause and we are bound to respect it. It is a duty to respect, safeguard and restore the environment in the execution of the project," says Mahamadou Bonkoungou, CEO of EBOMAF.

The entrepreneur does not hide his satisfaction that he has taken up the challenge that is opening up his hometown, Dédougou. Started in the last quarter of 2010, work on the national road 14 was initially planned to last thirty (30) months. In view of the corrective measures taken during the execution and the additional works brought by the contracting authority, an additional five (5) months was granted to the contracting authority. In three months, i.e. on the deadline of 30 November 2013, all its officials are unanimous that the work will be ready to put the ordeal of this path in the lot of old memories.

IE