PROBLEMS OF BITUMEN COATINGS IN THE TOGOLESE REPUBLICS

In Africa, the lack of road infrastructure and the poor condition of available roads not only affects regional trade between countries, but also the standard of living of populations who often find themselves very isolated. In Togo, in order to facilitate economic growth and high levels of social and human development in the years ahead, particular emphasis is being placed on the development of road infrastructure and regular maintenance of existing networks. The asphalt pavement is a fundamental element in the structure of a road, but also contributes to the comfort and safety of road users. In some places, however, it is in a poor state of repair, which has a number of sometimes tragic consequences. In this article, the organizational and technical environment relating to the use of asphalt concrete as a road surfacing material was analyzed in order to identify the factors behind the various imperfections observed in asphalt concrete road surfaces. To this end, various stakeholders in road projects and documents relating to roads in the Republic of Togo were consulted. As a result of the research, it was determined that the use of bituminous concrete in road structures was lacking in terms of organization and the skills required to use this asphalt. Solutions were proposed to enable the various players in the public works sector to gain a better understanding of asphalt concrete and improve the conditions under which this highly sought-after surfacing is used on road projects..