Algeria's roadlayer 'roll-out'

On winning contracts for the central and western sections of Algeria’s 1216 km East-West Expressway, the CITIC Group and China Railway Corporation (CRCC) consortium (CITIC-CRCC) turned to a roller firm to provide a fleet of 53 tandem rollers and track pavers.

CITIC-CRCC were awarded the contract for the central and western sections of highway (169 km and 359 km respectively) at a cost of US$451 million. To meet its tight schedule, punishing working conditions and remote locations, the contracting consortium ‘rolled out’ the new road rollers.

The fleet comprises entirely of Dynapac models 20 x F141C pavers, 1 x F182CS paver, 18 x CC624HF’s and 14 x CC622HF tandem rollers. The fleet is being used to pave and compact the base course, binder course and wearing course; almost the complete process of work.

POPULAR
The F141C is the most popular paver in its class, according to the manufacturer.

Equipped with long track drives and a 140 kW Deutz diesel engine, the paver is ideal for the Algerian highway project.

Featuring a 6 m3 hopper capacity, the F141C has a working width of 9 m with extension boxes and is able to place up to 750 t/h.

The single F182CS is an asphalt paver for working widths of up to 13.50 m including extension boxes and boasts a ‘brief’ capacity of 7.80 meters squared.

COMPACTION ROLLERS
The CC624HF double drum vibrating rollers feature a drum width of 2130 mm and boast a 12,200 kg operating mass. The model also offers a 166 kN centrifugal force at high amplitude and 106 kN at low amplitude.

TRAINING
Two on-site servicemen for the duration of the Algerian project are also holding a number of basic training courses for the consortium’s locally hired workers.

Most of the local workers do not have any experience of operating machines. With the combination of the custom made training and the user-friendliness of the equipment, the end result is always perfect, whether the operator starts out as a ‘greenhorn’ or as a skilled worker.

Customers are very satisfied with the performance of the fleet. Most machines are working 24 hours every day to meet the tight schedule.

“They have virtually no downtime except the regular maintenance,” said the project manager, continuing; “The rollers and pavers are working very well indeed.”

“I can not imagine what it would have been like if we had not chosen to buy brand.”

WORK
Work should be completed by the end of the year. At a total cost of $7 billion, the highway, which will have a total length of 1216 km, will be financed entirely by the central government.

The project was given the go-ahead because of oil revenues which generated the ambitious $60 billion overall national economic development programme.

The East-West Expressway project will also have a significant socio-economic impact by creating more than 100,000 jobs for people working in complementary services along the length of the highway.

For example, toll collection will be introduced for the first time in Algeria’s history.

Many prefectures, as well as ports and airports, will be linked by the highway. The cross-country road project can be characterised as a catalyst to help accelerate economic development in Algeria.

Minister for Public Works, Amar Ghoul, described the highway project as the largest in the Mediterranean and Africa and one of the world’s largest road projects. “It is part of a plan to build a 7,000 km Maghreb highway, he added.