Greater Sudbury's crumbling and bumpy roads are often a topic of derision by motorists.
City auditor Brian Bigger states there is justification for that mockery. His Aug. 14 report indicates there are major problems with quality control and oversight when it comes to road repairs.
In a Northern Life newspaper story, Bigger told the city's audit committee that tests done on asphalt on some rebuilt roads show between 20 to 100 per cent of the asphalt on some recent projects were below standard.
Sections of main thoroughfares such as Lasalle Boulevard, Regent Street and Radar Road contain asphalt that is not strong enough to withstand the rigours of daily traffic and weather.
The report said city staff used the wrong formula when testing the asphalt being laid down. Committee members were told that the standard being tested was not the standard specified in road building contracts.
In design, the method of road building aimed at minimizing the effects of water was not being followed.
Bigger also found that 30,000 tonnes of recycled pavement – which can be ground up and reused – has gone missing. It's valuable stuff, worth $15 per tonne.
Bigger recommended that recycled pavement be carefully tracked. If mixed in with new asphalt, it could mean huge savings on future projects.
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