The Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) has procured a 2bn/- worth modern facility for the professional examination of soil up to 200 metres below the ground, with an eye to strengthening efforts to prevent roads constructed by the Agency from deteriorating shortly after being completed.
The machine, installed at TARURA’s laboratory, will now assist the state-owned Agency to conduct thorough quality testing of construction materials and soil.
The Agency’s Acting Head of Laboratory Division, Mr Vincent Lwanda, added that the development would enable the institution to conduct detailed soil surveys before construction begins, a step that allows for the correct design of roads in accordance with the actual conditions of the area.
“In the past, roads used to deteriorate shortly after they were built. Now, through our laboratories, we know what the soil of the area contains and design the roads based on the results of those tests so that they last for a long time,” he said.
He explained that the tests focus on identifying weaknesses in the soil, enabling relevant engineers to determine the type of improvements needed, including the use of sand, cement and other materials to strengthen the soil before construction begins.
He stated that TARURA laboratories are not only used for road projects, but also provide services to citizens, public institutions and the private sector involved in the construction of houses, schools, hospitals and other buildings.
Explaining the capacity of the plant, Equipment Engineer from the Research and Quality Control Unit, Mr Emmanuel Kilasi, said that the equipment conducts geological surveys at depths of up to 200 to 300 metres underground to obtain soil samples.
He said that the investigation is important before the construction of bridges, roads and large buildings to determine the capacity of the soil to carry loads and help engineers design structures that are safe and meet acceptable standards.