WORK started early this year on a new highway in Sharjah which cuts through some of the region's most difficult desert conditions,
The Tawi Zubair Road, which will link the existing Khawaneej Road and Ras Al Khaimah Road, will form part of the new outer ring road and minimise traffic through the city. It will also reduce the journey time between the villages of Tawi and Zubair by at least 20 minutes.
The UAE-based Sharjah General Contracting Company, a subsidiary of Marwan General Contracting Company, was awarded the 8.3 km contract by the Road Section of Sharjah's Department of Public Works, with earthmoving starting at the end of January this year in a 12-month contract.
To speed up work on the road project which involves extensive earthmoving works, Marwan General Contracting Company recently boosted its fleet of eight Volvo A35Ds articulated haulers with a further seven such units.
In addition to constant sand blowing difficulties, ''it is extremely tough terrain with mountain-like sand dunes and soft powdery sand," says general projects manager Basil Al-Zaiem.
With more than 550,000 cu m of sand to be moved as cut and fill, the Volvos are said to be proving to be ideal in the difficult conditions.
"With time critical in the short 12-month contract, site engineers are becoming dependent on them," says Al Zaiem. "They are able to continue hauling in the soft sand dunes, even in the strongest winds, quicker and more effectively than our other haulers."
More than 240,000 cu m is being excavated as cut material with 310,000 cu m used for fill on the single carriageway project.
On completion of the cut-and-fill operations, the final road construction will comprise two 300 mm road base layers, a 200 mm wet mix layer and an 80 mm asphalt course.
The new Volvo A35Ds are making up to seven trips per hour with a maximum haul run of 500 m to sandfill or stockpile areas. The fleet of haulers have already moved more than 75 per cent of the specified sand quantities.
The latest additions to the Marwan fleet of haulers follows the delivery last year of the contractor's first Volvo haulers, eight A35Ds. Having previously used competitive machines, the new order highlights Marwan's confidence with the Volvo units, ordered through local distributor Al-Futtaim, says a spokeswoman for Volvo Construction Equipment (VCE), the Swedish manufacturer.
The Volvo A35D features an increased capacity of 32.5 tonnes with a struck load capacity of 15.2 cu m and a heaped capacity of 20 cu m according to SAE 2:1. Powered by a new electronically-controlled 12-litre Volvo diesel engine, rated at 289 kW (387 hp), the hauler can achieve a maximum speed of 56 km/hr.
The A35D incorporates a new hydraulic system for faster dumping. Volvo's recently developed load and dump brake also helps to further reduce cycle times, she says.
A new ergonomically-designed cab includes an adjustable steering wheel, fully adjustable air suspension operator seat, improved climate control system and improved instrument panel.
Permanently lubricated bearings and automatic lubrication levels, monitored from the instrument panel, help to reduce service frequency, the spokesperson points out. It is also fitted with an oil bath feature as standard, which is proving ideal in the treacherous sand environment, eliminating daily maintenance and extending engine life, she adds.
"The oil bath is a most important feature, particularly on this project," says Al Zaiem. "The Volvo haulers are performing very well when compared with our other haulers, providing trouble-free performance and high productivity. I am also very impressed with the after-sales back-up provided by Al-Futtaim."
"The operators are also very happy with the latest A35Ds because of the superior cabin control," he adds. This sentiment was endorsed by operator Mustapha Shoukat - with more than six years experience operating a range of haulers - the last three with Volvo A35Ds.
"Everything is where I want it," he says referring to the controls, including the all-important air-conditioning system with temperatures frequently exceeding 50 deg C.
VCE is a major international company developing, manufacturing and marketing equipment for construction and related industries. Its products, leaders in many world markets, include a comprehensive range of wheel loaders, hydraulic excavators, articulated haulers, motor graders and compact equipment. VCE is part of the Volvo Group, a manufacturer of trucks, buses, construction equipment, marine and industrial engines, and aerospace systems and components.