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Runway Construction

Product News Tuesday, September 15, 2009: Soil and Dust Solutions (Pty) Ltd

Soil & Dust Solutions and its local construction partner were able to provide a solution to the challenges of constructing a runway in a remote location which is also within a protected wilderness reverse area in the Central Kalahari Plains of Northern Botswana.

Environmental considerations were extremely important as well as the safety of the staff and guests as this is a tourist destination.

Wilderness Safaris allocated the supply and construction contract to Soil & Dust Solutions and its local construction partner, Shumba Construction for the entire project.

The location is within the Matswere Reserve, 400 kilometres north of Maun. The equipment and product were trucked to the site. The site had to be cleared and prepared. All contractors and staff camped n tents during the construction process.

The preparation required, surveying, leveling, and grading. Due to the location, a recycler could not be used, instead a rotovator attachment was used mounted on a tractor, in conjunction with a water truck, and roller.

The in-situ soil was sandy and silty and required pre-wetting in order to increase its moisture levels. The base soil stabilizer was diluted with water and mixed in using the Tractor/rotovator, and then compacted. As the surface had to be perfectly smooth, the surface seal was applied from the sides of the runway using a hose and manual sprayers connected to a water truck.

The end result was a smooth runway with a minimal environmental footprint.
The required maintenance is simply to keep area swept, and a surface seal maintenance application every 18 months.

For further details of this project see the full project profile on www.soilsolutions.com

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