Post of A. Zhumagaliyev, Minister of Transport and Communications of RK, about Road sector development of Kazakhstan

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Mails come to my blog on regular basis, in which Kazakhstani tell about the road condition in various regions, complains about the quality of repair works and construction, and ask to speed up with the reconstruction of the roads. Recently, as you know the President has also expressed a fair criticism of the road sector conditions. So, today taking into account the frequently asked questions, I have decided to tell about the situation in the sector and the measures that we are taking.

HIGHWAY CONDITIONS

Indeed, there are problems in the sector. They are unsatisfactory conditions of the roads, which makes 33% if we take into account all the road network; the quality of repair works; lack of funding for the reconstruction and maintenance; heavy trucks, which damage the road; imperfection of legislation and governance structures, etc. I think you also know about all these things.

Of course, even though we are talking about the limited funding, it is necessary to consider that until 2001 there were almost not any funding. In 2001, 2.5 thousand km of roads were covered by repair works for the allocated money, mostly it was patching and medium repair so that somehow to extend the life of the existing road network. Since 2009, funding has been increased significantly. This year, we were able to cover repair works for 5898 km of roads, of which 3,485 km are roads under Republican network. Moreover, 2315 km is now under reconstruction.

Thanks to the Transport Infrastructure Development Program, which we are currently developing at the request of the President, by 2020 we will bring the proportion of roads in good and fair condition up to 78% and we will cover the repair of more than 29,000 km roads.

THE COMMITTEE FOR ROADS MOTC RK WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE SELECTION OF CONTRACTOR

Imperfection of legislation and governance structures in the road sector is probably one of the major problems. It is regularly discussed about its consequences, in particular, about the susceptibility of the road building sector to corruption risks. The main reason for that is concentration of controlling functions in one division, in this case Committee for roads in a single person as the Employer and Controlling body who accepted the works.

Last year we decided to change radically the management structure by redistributing of functions.

As a result, the Committee for Roads is now responsible for strategic planning, supervision management and quality examination, regulatory and scientific support. I.e. now it plans when and which roads shall be repaired and checks the quality of construction. Organization of bids, selection of contractors, and development of design documentation is under responsibility of “Kazavtozhol” JSC which in this case does not take over the roads by themselves. Acceptance of works performed will be carried out by special Engineering Services, which operate on the basis of FIDIC international rules. These rules we have already implemented in the construction of “Western Europe - Western China” international corridor.

ACCORDING TO FIDIC THE DECISION FOR PAYMENT OF WORK PERFORMED BY CONTRACTOR IS MADE BY THE ENGINEER

Standard forms of contracts between the Employer and the Contractor under FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers) are used today in 80 countries, moreover, they are obligatory during the construction of roads funded by International Financial Institutions.

According to FIDIC, project management is carried out by the Engineer with relevant work experience, which is also selected on a competitive basis. He is fully responsible for the quality of the work, promptly makes all the technical decisions, i.e. in fact performs the functions that were assigned by the Employer.

By the way, according to FIDIC decision on payment of work performed also is made by Engineer, thus eliminating contact between the Employer and the Contractor. What is important now is that FIDIC contracts provide for penalties for late mobilization, disruption of construction time, for smoothness and quality of pavement, etc.

At the same time, personal responsibility of engineering services is stipulated, up to criminal punishment. In the case of shortcomings on their part, they will be deprived of the License for this activity.

After testing this form of work in the repair and reconstruction of republican roads, we want to apply it on local roads. I.e., the Akimats which are now responsible for the condition of the local road network will also need to change the approach to work. 

MOTC IS DEVELOPING ROAD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Together with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, we plan to introduce automated roads control system in Kazakhstan which will accumulate all the information about the state of roads in the country.

The data from the multi-function laboratories evaluating the condition of the roads and the existing defects will flock to this system, as well as information about traffic from automated control loops.

As a result, the system is able to assess the state of the road network, determine the type and priority of maintenance work, calculate the necessary budget.

The car owners will feel themselves the advantages of this innovation. They will have the opportunity in the online mode to see the condition of the roads and plan their route.

CONSTRUCTION OF 1,625 KM OF "WESTERN EUROPE - WESTERN CHINA" ROAD ARE COMPLETED

The international standards of construction quality control which I mentioned above have been applied for the first time during the construction of "Western Europe - Western China" highway. The quality of work is monitored by the Committee for Roads, RSE “Oblzhollaboratoriya” together with foreign Engineers who are required by the Bank for a loan of which the work has been funded.

In general, if we talk about the project, one can say that we have reached the finish line this year. Construction works on the last sections of "Western China - Western Europe" International Transport Corridor (Almaty - Khorgos, Shymkent – border of Zhambyl oblast, Taraz bypass) has commenced. In near future the preparatory works will start at Tashkent – Shymkent section.

According to the plan this year we should open 806 km road for traffic. As of to date 710 km of road have been completed. Overall, at the end of this year traffic will be opened at 1721 km road. 

DEVELOPMENT OF ROADS IN THE DIRECTION OF CENTER -SOUTH, CENTER – WEST, CENTER - EAST

Commencement of roads construction in the direction from the center to the regions is one of the main results of this year. Following the President’s instructions in the short term we have developed design documentation for some sections, held tender and started construction works.

The works at 37.7 km are being implemented in the direction from Astana to Pavlodar today. Next year it will be another grand construction; 429 km will be covered by reconstruction.

Today the works are carried out in Beineu - Shetpe and Arkalyk – Torgai sections in the direction of Center - West. A few days ago the tender for the reconstruction of 170 km of Shetpe – Aktau section was published.

In addition next year, Almaty - Kapshagai road will be covered by the works; today 52 km is being reconstructed. 

NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION ARE TESTED ON 40 PILOT SECTIONS

We pay great attention to the introduction of new technologies in construction. Almost every month we receive letters with proposals to apply one or another new materials or polymers. We consider all these technologies, our Institute “KazDorNII” checks their actual properties, and inspects how they behave in our climate.

To date, we have laid 40 pilot sections. We observe the behavior of the pavement in practice. An interdepartmental working group is created that is reviewing the issues of innovative materials introduction.

Some of the technology we already have begun to use by the results of testing. For example, “Slurry Seal”. This year after research works we began to use microsurfacing road pavement, which prolongs the life cycle of the pavement. At the same time there is know-how that we do not allow to use after studies. For example, we have held a test of some polymeric additives which should improve the properties of asphalt. However, the tests have shown that these additives on the contrary worsen the properties of asphalt in our sharply continental climate.

As for the construction technology of cast-in-situ reinforced concrete bridges, which the Head of State spoke about at the enlarged session of the Government, we are now testing it in Kyzylorda and South Kazakhstan regions. Monitoring shows a positive result, after its completion we will begin widespread introduction of technology. 

TOLL ROADS

You have probably noticed that in recent years more roads have been constructed in the highest category. However we shall not only build a good road, bit also it is necessary to maintain it, otherwise soon it will become worthless. 10 centimeter crack, if not to fix it in time, will turn into a hole under the influence of moisture and sunlight. Such roads, of course, are comfortable and convenient, but their maintenance is very expensive.

This year we launched the first toll road “Astana – Shchuchinsk” in Kazakhstan. We have done it not to return the money invested in the construction of it as many people think. The road was built for our taxes, which means that we have financed this road. The money that will be collected from the toll road will go to the maintenance of this road. And from this calculation the rate of passage was determined, which by the way, is minimal.

For passenger cars we have set the cost at 1 tenge; for local residents living near the route on the recommendations of Deputies we provided an annual subscription which costs 1000 tenge.

The “Astana- Shchuchinsk” Road will now maintain itself. That is, more than 1 billion KZT which previously were allocated for these purposes will be redirected. It will be enough for the average repair works of 100 km of another road.

13 ELECTRONIC SCALES ARE LAUNCHED IN KAZAKHSTAN [2]

One of the main problems of bad roads in Kazakhstan is heavy trucks which literally damage the roadbed. There are, of course, the transport control checkpoints. In part, they perform their functions, they stop overloaded vehicles, fine them - the money goes to the budget for the rehabilitation of roads. Last year we have equipped them with video surveillance so that they could be more effective. Detectability of overloaded transport has increased several times, but while the inspector is checking one vehicle, the other 5 vehicles pass unhindered. Plus, you need to take into account the human factor.

Remember last year I talked about our plan for modernization of Committee of Transport Control (CTC 2.0). Then at the idea stage we said that we would start to install electronic scales that will weigh the vehicle in motion. I have informed you that we will close stationary checkpoints of transport control which were criticized a lot. So, we have already installed 13 such arches and we are starting to lauch them, and as I promised we have already closed nine stationary checkpoints. Next year we will increase their number to 31, and moreover we will launch the service of sending fines to the home address of the owner of the cars. Subsequently, there will be 80 such vehicle load checkpoints.

Just for your information I am providing the following figures: in the period of the testing of three weighing systems since January 2013, more than 238 thousand cars have been tested, while by all stationary checkpoints - 74.6 thousand vehicles.

IMPLEMENTATION OF AUTOMATED FOREIGN PERMITS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

The distribution of foreign blank forms between freight forwarders and their artificial shortage and frequent resale is another problem of the transport control. I also wrote about it last year in my post (CTC 2.0). At present, we have already settled it, again, through the introduction of new technology by automating business processes. Now freight carriers sent applications for blank forms through the portal of e-government, and get them in PSC. Employees of transport inspections, i.e., that notorious human factor were excluded in this chain. System distributes blank forms by the formula, the process is completely transparent. And, I must say that carriers have already felt the benefits of the system - not only the issuance of blank forms has increased, but also the return of used ones.

IMPLEMENTATION OF EMERGENCY CALL FOR ACCIDENTS WILL REDUCE FATALITY IN ROAD ACCIDENTS BY 30%

This system is another our know-how, one of the components of complex measures aimed at improving road safety along with the reconstruction of roads, installation of guardrails, etc. Of course, it will not be a panacea for driving into the oncoming lane, speeding, driving while intoxicated or drunk, keeping a distance, it has another task - to reduce the response time to accidents by operational services. According to the "golden hour" rule - the earlier the rescuers arrive, the greater is the chance that victims can be rescued.

From 1 January 2015 special terminals must be equipped in all cars involved in passenger transportation and transporting dangerous cargo. From 2017 according to the terms of the technical regulations of the Customs Union , they will be installed in all new cars manufactured by the factories. Private car owners will also be able to install the proper equipment to previously purchased vehicles.

The effect that we expect from the introduction of this system by reducing the response time of emergency services is the reduction of fatalities by 30 %.

10 BUS STATIONS AND 50 BUS TERMINALS WILL BE BUILT ACCORDING TO TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

216 PASSENGER SERVICE POINTS AND 260 SERVICE OBJECTS

Not only the development of the road network, but also the infrastructure of transportation and services are stipulated in the State Transport Infrastructure Development Program, which I have already mentioned. In particular, there will be built 10 bus stations in the cities, 50 bus terminals in the district centers, 216 passengers service points in rural areas, as well as 260 service facilities on the republican roads. Plus, repair of existing infrastructure (road, railroad and airstation) is provided.

Website of MOTC RK [3]