IEM PI Section A – Management experience related 2

(For PI section A, candidate will have to write an essay, which the question was earlier prepared by interviewers based on candidate’s Report on Training and Practical Experience. The following were predicted questions, by Mr. BAY based on his submitted report to principal interview and his trial exercise prior to sitting of PI.)


Management Experience Related Question

What are the authoritative approval and procedure for a road enhancing work?

Introduction

Enhancement of road will be requested by authority such as JKR state and district when a project is at main road side of either federal or state road. It is a pre-requisite prior to planning approval especially the project occupies big area. The big development, once completed, will result high volume of traffic into and from the developed area into main road. Hence, it is reasonable that road enhancement being requested by authority to streamline the traffic at main road.

The following are items and stages of approval of proposed road enhancement work, which are needed to be presented and submitted to “Unit Pengurusan Projek Cawangan Jalan”, “Unit Keselamatan Jalan (Cawangan Jalan)”. Both the units are from JKR.

1)      Traffic Impact Assessment – traffic volume in coming future.

It is evaluation of current road and traffic situation plus projection (prediction) of future traffic condition of probably 10 years later.

The report shall be prepared by third party engineer, will cover current utilization of the road type (like federal road R5) and estimation (prediction) of the possible utilization in future due to grow of traffic and upon completion of new project.

The findings, as earlier paragraph, will be presented and recommendation will be included such as road enhancement and installation of traffic light system.

2)      Road safety audit-1 : Conceptual design dwgs.

This stage could have been started before TIA and shall be reviewed by road design engineer upon completion of TIA by another party. The conceptual design dwgs will have to be submitted to another appointed Road Safety Auditor.

The RSA auditor will be prepared a report with recommendation.

3)      Road safety audit-2 : Preliminary design drws.

This is next stage of RSA-1, preliminary design drws will have to be submitted to RSA auditor for his review and recommendation.

4)      Road safety audit-3 : Detailed design drws.

With permission from JKR, road design engineer could proceed directly to detailed design drws, without both RSA-1 and RSA-2. The detailed design shall cover proposed final road alignment, road furniture, traffic light system, relocation of utility, etc.

The detailed design shall take into consideration of all recommendation of TIA. Then, the design is submitted for RSA auditor for review and recommendation. 

5)      Road safety audit-4 (Stage 1, 2 & 3) : Construction and Traffic Management Drws (Stage 1), Corrective Action (Stage 2 & 3) prior to work approval.

There are 3 sub-stage for RSA-4.

The first sub-stage is construction and traffic management plan. This is planning of traffic management during construction work. A traffic management officer (TMO) will have to be appointed. The TMO will have to monitor and supervise the approved traffic management plan implemented effectively. Work approval will only granted by JKR if the traffic management plan and RSA-4 satisfy them.

The second and third of RSA-4 are corrective actions to traffic management plan and road construction works during ongoing construction. Supervision team members such the project Superintending Officer (S.O.) and engineer will have to ensure contractor to implement corrective actions prior to proceeding of works. 

6)      Road safety audit-5: Audit after issuance of CPC (approx. 3~6 months).

This is the last stage of the RSA process, which is to be carried out probably after 3 to 6 month after project completion and open to traffic. The RSA auditor, at this time, to check and review the efficiency of the design. Or else, recommendation and remedy work will be recommended.

Conclusion

For project, which is located next to main road (federal road) or when a new junction to main road is proposed, an independent Traffic Impact Officer will have to be appointed to conduct the study on the existing road and traffic and also the impact upon completion of project and new junction.

In addition, a road safety auditor who is independent too, will have needed to audit the road designer’s design, ongoing construction condition and as-built condition.

Both the TIA report and RSA of varies stages, though some stages may be omitted by JKR based on their jurisdiction, are required to satisfy JKR requirement prior to start work and takeover of the road.