Improvement work on Highway 40 will resume this spring and summer after initially unsatisfactory repairs.
After the initial work carried out by Roxboro Excavation in August 2021, problems with the road surface were observed and needed to be addressed, the Department of Transportation said in a press release. Analyzing the bitumen used for the works between September and November, the Ministry found that the quality of the material was lower than specified in the contract. A higher-quality bitumen must therefore be used for the second working wave.
Experts were able to determine that two classes of bitumen were mixed during the production of the material, which explains the lower content.
Without corrective agents, the bitumen could have worn out faster and therefore would have required further work in the near future. While some sections of road have been coated with low-quality bitumen, it would pose no danger to users, the ministry said.
“A temporary payment moratorium of $2.9 million was imposed on the contractor. This retention will be lifted as soon as all contractual conditions are fulfilled. In addition, the contractor has agreed to pay the ministry unconditional damages of $820,000,” the statement said.
The work will be announced to road users in advance and will be carried out on weekends.