Lagos State government says it will be deploying new technology to address incessant failures of newly constructed and rehabilitated roads before their expected lifespan.
Collapse of newly constructed roads before their expected lifespan is a major challenge in Lagos. Experts have attributed this to a number of factors, including corruption arising from poor quality of materials used, unprofessionalism on the part of contractors, pressure from heavy-duty vehicles, inad- equate drainage system, water and poor finishing.
But the special adviser to the state governor on works and infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye says the current administration is poised to address to this menace scientifically.
Adeyoye spoke at a stakeholders meeting to brainstorm on ways of reducing wastage of resources occasioned by having to rework projects already completed. According to him, such practice is impacting negatively on the purse of the state government and must therefore be addressed.
She agreed that the road failures are largely the effect of materials which fell short of standard thereby resulting in speedy disintegration. The quality of materials especially those procured from third parties can only be determined through laboratory test and calibration.
Adeyoye stated that going forward; standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be spelt out in all construction projects in the state whether undertaken by an agency of government like the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) or contractors.
The standard operating procedure, she noted, would ensure that necessary test and calibration of materials to be deployed at every stage of construction such as soil-cement, concrete mixtures, interlocking pavement blocks and asphalt were conducted in world class laboratories and properly signed off as having satisfied the international best practices bench mark.
“We want to go out and fix failed roads but we must ensure that we get it right, so that funds hitherto channeled at reworking roads can be deployed to other projects,” she said.
