In road construction, too, construction supervision determines the durability of the result. Asphalt, base layers and drainage do not forgive execution errors, and traffic usually keeps running.
What it comprises
Construction supervision in road construction monitors the execution of traffic surfaces, base layers, drainage and ancillary installations for conformity with the planning, the regulations and the recognised rules of technology. As in railway construction, at its core it corresponds to site supervision in HOAI service phase 8.
Unlike in building construction, the structure largely lies hidden: what concerns the substructure and the base layers is no longer visible after installation. Errors not detected here only show up years later as damage.
Core tasks
- Supervision of the installation of base layers and asphalt for profile, compaction and installation temperature.
- Checking of the drainage, kerbs and ancillary installations.
- Support of the material and suitability tests.
- Supervision of quality, quantities, costs and deadlines as well as verifiable documentation.
The layers that are later built over in particular must be checked at the moment of installation. A later check is no longer possible without opening the surface again.
Material and weather
Asphalt is a temperature-dependent material. Installation and compaction temperature, weather and the speed of installation determine the later load-bearing capacity and service life of the surface. Construction supervision must keep these parameters in view at the moment of installation.
The same applies to earthworks and civil engineering: compaction, frost protection and the right materials are the basis of a durable road. If they are not supervised, settlements and cracks arise that are expensive to remedy.
Building under traffic
Road construction sites usually lie within live traffic. Traffic safeguarding protects both road users and workers and is part of every measure. Traffic routing, signage and work-site safeguarding must be planned and supervised.
Place within the core services
Road and civil engineering belongs, alongside railways and renewable energy, to the areas covered by LND Ingenieure. The principles are the same as in railway construction: proper execution, seamless documentation and safety when building under traffic.
Anyone able to accompany infrastructure across several trades also recognises the interfaces between road, drainage and adjacent installations, where most defects arise.
Tests and documentation
In road construction, quality rests on a close-meshed system of material and installation tests. Even before installation, suitability tests are carried out for the materials used; during installation, control tests on the installed layer follow.
- Suitability test: proof that the intended material meets the requirements.
- Self-monitoring: ongoing checks by the contractor.
- Control test: spot-check testing on behalf of the client.
Construction supervision accompanies these tests, evaluates the results and ensures that deviations are documented and clarified before building continues. An installed, defective layer can only be corrected later at great effort.
The verifiable documentation is not an end in itself. It is the basis for acceptance, warranty and, in a dispute, for proving that the work was carried out properly.
Häufige Fragen
What does construction supervision monitor in road construction?
The installation of base layers and asphalt, the drainage and ancillary installations as well as quality, quantities, costs and deadlines, each for conformity with the planning and regulations.
Why is the moment of installation so important?
Because base layers and substructure are later built over and thus invisible. Errors can then only be established by opening the surface.
What needs particular attention with asphalt?
Asphalt is temperature-dependent. Installation and compaction temperature as well as weather determine the load-bearing capacity and service life of the surface.
Edoé Lassey
Edoé Lassey führt die LND Ingenieure GmbH als Bauüberwacher und Ingenieur für Infrastruktur- und Tiefbau. Die zertifizierten Rollen Technischer Berechtigter, Sicherungsüberwacher, Schaltantragsteller und Bauvorlageberechtigung gehören zum Leistungskern.
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