Importance of specification in road projects

Specification is very important in a road project because the road is built from many materials and operations (earthwork, sub-base, base, bituminous or concrete surfacing, drainage and structures), and the quality of each controls the service life.

• Quality of materials: it fixes the grading, CBR, abrasion value, bitumen grade and cement for the sub-base, base and surfacing.
• Method and standard of work: compaction level, layer thickness, temperatures for laying asphalt, curing and tolerances for levels, camber and smoothness.
• Quality control: the test types and frequency (field density, Marshall test, cube tests) so the engineer can accept or reject the work.
• Basis for tender and payment: each pay item (m³ of earthwork, m² of surfacing) has a clear scope, measurement and rate, as in the Department of Roads (DoR) Standard Specifications.
• Uniform standard for different contractors and sections of the road.
• Dispute settlement and extension of time or variation claims.
• Durability and safety: reduces early failure, pothole and rutting, saving maintenance cost.