Dear Editor,

I read Howard Chin’s piece, headlined ‘Ever wonder why some roads fail so often – so fast?’ in last Saturday’s Observer and he brilliantly (in layman’s terms) explained how inferior roads are constructed.

I will take it a bit further and say that it is obvious that the powers that be take very lightly this thing of public safety. I now ask these questions:

I am not discriminating, but am I the only one who takes notice of the level of workers that are usually “employed” to do “roadworks”?

For something as expensive and detrimental as a roadway, who is responsible for ensuring that “knowledgeable” individuals are hired to handle this type of work?

As it relates to the “contractors” that are awarded the jobs to fix the roadways — tax compliance and fair price aside — who checks to ensure that these “contractors” are “experts” in the field of roadworks?

Who/which agency is responsible for quality assurance? If it is the agency I suspect, what is really going on at Winchester Road?

Are the roads checked when the contractors are done working? Is it that “quality assurance” for us is sending someone out to do a “drive-by” to make sure there are no potholes?

How many times after roadworks have been completed do we see debris from the project along the roadway? Oftentimes the heap is so high it hardens to form a mini-mountain.

I didn’t know it was a secret that we live in country where it rains… a lot. That said, why aren’t our roads being constructed to allow for proper run-off, etc?

Is there a warranty on roadworks? Meaning, if the problem recurs in say, less than 365 days after it was fixed, is the “contractor” liable to repair it at no additional cost?

I am convinced that if a warranty system was implemented, greater care would be taken to ensure that the roads are fixed properly the first time around. Is this unreasonable?

I am sure there are algorithms that can be used to take variables such as the amount of rainfall and vehicular traffic into consideration when determining the warranty on a road.

I could go on, but it makes no sense to continue, because I already know the answers to all these questions.

Software companies do it. Manufacturers of electronic products do it. Telecommunications providers do it. The only way to keep consumers coming back for more is to offer a product that is incomplete, or at the very least, requires an upgrade in a few months’ time.

In the same way, these “contractors” are awarded the contracts, sub-contract the work to another “contractor” who brings in a few “workers” to handle the job. The poor quality work coupled with inevitable battering from rainfall results in what? A new contract every few months for “maintenance and repair”; ergo, a steady income for the coffers of the contractors.

This is the equation: substandard contractors + substandard subcontractors + minimum spend + unsuitable, unqualified labour + inferior material + inferior techniques and processes = failing roads that magically disappear!

This week’s assignment for readers. Take note of every pothole, crater or trench in your community or the major roadways on which you travel each day. Make a note the next time you see them outlined in yellow and subsequently “repaired”. Then, check back a few days after it has rained. The same potholes, craters and trenches that were “repaired” return in no time, all the time! Am I right? Or am I right?

Ginger Knowles

gingerknowles@live.com