;pMEDINA, JOSEPH JAMES S.

Things that Interns learned during their Observation to the Otis Road Reblocking Project

of DPWH

Methods of Construction

Methods of Construction in the site refers to the various method that the site engineers or

the contractors should implement to follow the proper sequence on the development in the cycle

of the project. It also refers to the techniques and procedure that will be done in the construction

of a project. Procedures and activities in the construction is classified generally according to its

appropriate field, these are the formworks, rebars, and concreting that help sustain the accessibility

of the consumption of the progress in situation that deals with the progress assigned to the dates

initially required. For Road Constructions, one method that is commonly used here in the

Philippines for Road Improvement Projects is the Road Reblocking Method, where a portion or a

block of a road is selected for excavation and concrete pouring. This is an effective method to

manage properly the traffic being affected in road improvement projects. Shown on the diagram

below is the process or the style of contractor of the DPWH- South Manila District to finish the

project ahead of time. According to the memorandum of DPWH, road pavements should be

updated by every after 1.5 - 2 years. The DPWH also recommends the 4 meter length of blockings

to maintain the strength and standard of the pavement

A. Installation of Adequate Barricades and
Traffic Signs that are illuminated at
night on the Working Area of the Road
Reblocking Construction

B. Cutting of Defective Section by Block

Basis and Excavation of Excavated
Materials

C. Compaction of Soil and Preparation of

Base (and Sub-Base if applicable)

D. Preparation of Formworks, Drainage

and Concrete Pouring for Road
Pavements

E. Insertion of Dowels at Joints,

Temperature Cracking and Asphalt
Sealing
A. Installation of Adequate Barricades and Traffic Signs that are illuminated at night on the

Working Area of the Road Reblocking Construction

This step analyzes the part of the road where establishments that need to be prioritized for

concrete pouring are selected. This is needed to identify what concrete mix is needed for that

certain road pavement block. For example, the Otis Road Project, passes through Robinsons Otis

and Malacañang Palace, and other business and residential establishments. The engineer will then

identify the traffic scheme and determine if the construction will use a high-early strength concrete

mix or just a Type 1 Portland cement with admixtures.

B. Cutting of Defective Section by Block Basis and Excavation of Excavated Materials

This step removes the existing road and replace with new pavement, on this cutting, the

depth at which the base should be compacted should result to a 30 mm depth of the pavement.

C. Compaction of Soil and Preparation of Base (and Sub-Base if applicable)

The most critical step of the road pavement is the compaction of the base to maintain its

strength. The elevation is also considered during this compaction period.

D. Preparation of Formworks, Drainage and Concrete Pouring for Road Pavements

On this step, the style of the contractor is to construct first the drainage so they can lessen

the time and formworks spent. After they finished the drainage, they will measure an elevation of

.30cm to the center line, from both ends. For the outer lanes, they used formworks at the end of

the block and at the sides, however for the inner lane or center lane, they only used formworks at

the end of each block. The forms used are also aluminum formworks. The formworks can be

removed after 24 hours.

E. Insertion of Dowels at Joints, Temperature Cracking and Asphalt Sealing

 In this step, it ensures the strength of the pavement. Dowels are needed to be inserted so that

blocks will be joined at each joint, making the road stable. Since road pavements does not have

rebars, dowels join together the road pavement blocks. Temperature Crack are then cut on the

pavement before the concrete hardens (or after 8 hours) so that the heat of the concrete below or

the one in touch with base will go out, after the concrete hardens, asphalt sealant is then placed on

the temperature cracks, so rainwater will not seep to the base of the road to prevent soil base

settlements causing uneven elevations of the road.

Quality Management

a. Slump Test

Same for vertical structure, slump test shows the concrete mix meets the designed strength of the

concrete mix.

b. Concrete Road Coring or Drilling

To make sure the strength of the pavement is the designed strength this process is done.

Construction Equipment

In Otis Road Reblocking Project, various equipment is used to make light the workload of

the work of the construction. Basically, equipment is used to fasten the work of the workers in the

site. Without this equipment, project time could be doubled or maybe tripled and will affect the

designated process of the work pace. Equipment have different purposes in the site which some

are used for concrete, and soil compaction. Also, before equipment can enter and exit the site, it

should have the permit in the warehouse.

A. Pavement Breaker
 The use of this equipment is to crack or break the pavements being constructed. Using this

equipment for a major road is more effective than a jackhammer.

B. Back Hoe Excavator

Equipment Used to collect broken pavements for faster collection of excavated materials.

The excavated pavements are either directly placed to a dump truck or to a holding area in the site.

C. Road Roller - Soil Compactor

 This equipment is used to prepare the base of the road to the required density, using a road

roller equipment is faster than manually compacting a soil.

D. Concrete Saw

A heave powered concrete saw is used to cut pavements during the start of reblocking.

Another use of concrete saw is to place temperature cracks into pavements, although on the site

they used a manual saw to put cracks on concrete that has not yet completely dried.
E. Asphalt Sealing Machine

Use of asphalt sealing on temperature cracks prevent water from seeping to the base. The

use of this equipment is to put asphalt sealing faster than manual asphalt sealing.

F. “Barang”

A tool used for the alignment of concrete being poured, so that the end of the poured

volume will have a straight line. Together with shovels, “walis”, and wipers, construction workers

use this equipment to smooth finish the concrete pavement and maintain its alignment and

elevation

Problems Encountered

The problems encountered in the Otis Road Reblocking Project are bad weather condition,

delayed delivery of concrete, traffic management, and motorcycle riders or people walking that

forcibly passes through wet concrete. For a Construction Project, weather plays a vital factor that

should be taken into consideration especially when it comes to concrete pouring. Since the

structural characteristic of the concrete would be exposed to a large amount of moisture, it will
greatly damage or destroy the pouring of the concrete. Weather condition is more crucial in

horizontal projects as it is directly exposed to the weather and engineers and laborers are

challenged to act with quick response if a bad weather occurred after concrete pouring, they need

to decide what method they should use to protect the wet concrete from additional water from the

rain.

The Material Delivery is still an important factor in an efficient construction project. Before

the delivery of the scheduled material, the site engineer will need to order the concrete for the road

on the desired schedule based on the traffic management plan he planned for the part of the

reblocking. However, the time punctuality of delivery of the ready mixed concrete depends on

traffic rules such as truck bans and color coding. Aside from the concrete delivery, the site engineer

also needs to determine if there is enough storage in the temporary site facility for the delivery of

dowels.

Traffic Management, is perhaps the most diffuclt problem to be managed by the site

engineer on a road reblocking project aside from preparation from bad weather conditions. The

most important thing for road reblocking projects is to identify which part of the road is to be cut

first, and constructed first to avoid traffic congestion of vehicles. Also related to this problem, is

the problem that causes heavy financial losses to a contractor, motorists or people who forcibly

passes through the wet concrete portion of a reblocking project. Even with barricades and proper

signages, some people are really hard headed and has no respect to the construction ongoing, if the

road construction causes them traffic delays and they became impatient they will pass through the

wet portion causing the concrete to do not harden to its designed form of the road, and it will have

wheel marks or foot prints that causes loss to the contractor. The engineers and workers are lucky

if they are able to find who forcibly pass through the wet portion.
 Right solution must be performed for these cases in which it will help the construction to have

ascending quality and the project will be successful for promoting a teamwork and hard work for

the actual process of the construction with the collaboration of the engineers who make the plans

to make the project into a reality which is applicable for the public for providing an ambiance for

a way to live.