Chirwa, MaryMukwena, Shothodzo TRoux, Michael PMuronga, Khangwelo2026-08-072026-08-072026-07http://hdl.handle.net/10204/14883The South African government has invested significantly in developing digital decisionsupport systems to improve road infrastructure planning and maintenance. Despite their technical robustness, the impact of these tools, such as the Abnormal Loads System, Road Asset Management Systems (RAMS), the PotholeFixGP application, and the STRUMAN Bridge Management System, has been limited by institutional, governance, and funding challenges. This study examines whether these systems are being used as intended, and identifies the barriers between development, implementation, and sustained network-level use. Drawing on interviews with system developers and implementation stakeholders, the paper presents four case studies highlighting common implementation bottlenecks. Findings show that while technical design was sound across all systems, uptake was constrained by weak institutional ownership, inconsistent operational funding, and misalignment with budgeting and decision-making processes. The study concludes with recommendations for strengthening the long-term integration of digital tools into infrastructure governance frameworks.FulltextenDecision support toolsTransport infrastructureHeavy vehiclesPotholesBridge management systemsRoad asset management systemsConference Presentationn/a