Evaluating the Significance of Poor Road Design as a Factor of Road Failure: A Study of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway, Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Evaluating the significance of poor road design as a factor of the road failure of Onitsha-Enugu expressway, Southeastern Nigeria using a survey design method which employed the use of individual interviews and a well structured questionnaire to collate data. To determine the significant causes of road failure among causes listed, One-way Analysis of Variance was used. The ANOVA shows that the variation among the causes is not significantly different, a Post HOC test was applied to classify the listed factors. The mean values was used to rank the factors as follows; 1. Inadequate maintenance, 2.  Mismanagement by the government, 3. Old age of the road pavement, 4. Incompetence of the contractor, 5. Bad nature of the soil, 6. Stress of heavy vehicles, 7. Poor road design; meaning that the least of the factors of the roadway under study is poor road design. The work concluded that poor road design is not a significant factor of the road failure although there is need for redesigning and reconstruction of the roadway.  Sequel to these findings and conclusion, the work recommends that efforts be made by the stake holders in road construction to ensure accurate design of any road way before its construction proper which will consider all the characteristics of the area to be cut across by the roadway, the service burden to be borne by the road way and the expected life span. Relevant geologists, climatologists and engineers to be enlisted at the design and planning stages of any roadway before its construction proper. There should be routine and periodic maintenance as this is necessary not minding how good or bad the road was designed for it to stand the test of time. There should be monitoring and properly supervising of the construction engineers to see that they accurately implement what was preplanned by the designing engineers not trying to cut costs that may be detrimental.