The geology and engineering geology of roads in South Africa

Abstract

Paper presented at the 23rd Annual Southern African Transport Conference 12 - 15 July 2004 "Getting recognition for the importance of transport", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. This paper briefly summarises the geological and geomorphological history of South Africa. This history is then related to various problems affecting the construction of roads in South Africa. These problems need to be identified early and countermeasures taken to ensure that premature and costly road failures do not occur. The major problems discussed include those related to expansive, collapsible, dispersive, erodible and very soft soils as well as material durability and slope stability. It is interesting, but somewhat worrying, to note that little development in these areas has taken place since the hey-days of research between the mid 1960s and the late 1980s.