Compliance with specifications for road construction as issued by the local authority : a case study

Abstract

Purpose: To determine to what extent 'on site' road construction adheres to the new specifications issued by the ADT. The dissertation will take the form of a case study of Lot 1 Phase 1 works forming part of the 5th ltalo-Maltese protocol. Design: Such objective was achieved by on-site observation, discussions and material testing. Observation of the methods of road construction and the management strategy adopted led to numerous discussions with the Contractor, the Supervisor and the Authority. Subgrade testing was carried out to achieve proper classification. Findings: Although a quality assurance team was set up by the Contractor, there is still scope for deeper understanding of the Specifications. In addition, the quality of the road construction is further undermined by the lack of a proper management and planning system. These factors are hindering the pursuit of the project objectives – the construction of a road to specific time, cost and quality parameters. Value: This study indicates that greater consideration of the Specifications with regards to material testing and construction procedures coupled with improved management and planning will result in shorter construction time of higher quality roads. Moreover, these results are sustained by greater returns for the Contractors. Research limitations: This study is based on information gathered from the Contractor, the Supervisor and the Authority. Some data were unavailable due to their confidential nature. Assumptions had to be taken to complete the study.