With roads across the country deteriorating by the day, one regional corporation is seeking innovative solutions. The Tunapuna Piarco Regional Corporation has partnered with Trinidad Cement Limited and Cemex Ltd., to put its road-paving materials to the test. Rynessa Cutting has more.
00:00A by-product of the cement manufacturing process now presents itself as one possible solution to the country's bitumen shortage, which is hindering road repairs nationwide.
00:12We do have a by-product that we refer to as nibs that is part of our processes at the quarry, which we would have utilized with the support of cement, and we would have stabilized the base material, which is placed already and compacted, and after three days it has been standing up quite well.
00:34So the benefit of that is absolutely low cost, very easy to install. You can literally drive on it six hours after. It's very durable, and for the end user, it's a smoother ride.
00:49Trinidad Cement Ltd. says the solution can last for decades.
00:53Just opposite the highway, we would have completed a concrete section of the highway that was quite beneficial, so we have a number of solutions that can utilize cement and concrete.
01:06So this was just another way of partnering again with the local government to come up with a sustainable solution.
01:14How long does it last for? How long could it last?
01:16Our cement, we last forever. However, we typically design these roads as progressive, which means that when you have a stronger base, you can go with a thinner surface.
01:29So typically, our cement-treated base roads or concrete roads would last a minimum lifespan of 20 years once it is properly maintained.
01:40This is but one of the Tunapuna-Piaco Regional Cooperation's public-private partnerships.
01:46As the corporation continues to seek innovative solutions with finite resources.
01:53We would have procured a coal mix as a corporation, and we get some assistance from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, where hot mix is concerned.
02:02And around this time, it's a bit slow to get, because of resources, because of finances and otherwise.
02:09So we welcome these initiatives that would assist.
02:14As you know, last year we would have rolled out, in collaboration with UTT and some other agencies, we would have rolled out the road restoration with the use of tires, recycled tires and so forth.
02:28And that process is a bit lengthy.
02:31Kariri led that project, along with UTT and TPLC.
02:35And now we are here using LIBS.
02:38And this process is one that we welcome.
02:41This process is very easy to use.
02:44And we have placed it at least three days ago.
02:47We saw it's a very useful product, and we look forward to seeing that in other parts of the region.
02:53The restoration works were carried out on the race course road in Arima, free of charge.
02:59As you know, Malama Mausika is perhaps one of the more prominent commercial hubs in the east.
03:03This is just one of the areas where we have a number of corporate constituents.
03:07We have across the road two industrial areas with a number of companies that we hope to partner with.
03:14And I'm hoping that coming out of this exercise, it wouldn't just be road rehabilitation, but that we could also lean on these companies to assist with provision of employment, as well as community development.
03:24Because coming out of the cancellation of the CPAP and URP programs, we have been seeing a lot of requests for employment.
03:31And I'm hoping that these entities who use these particular areas, that they would be able to assist in that as well.
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