Some recently paved roads are already starting to deteriorate and that has one city councillor asking questions about the quality of Windsor's greatest assets.
Every year, the taxpayer spends on average $22 million on roads. But the city only spends $42,000 of that overall road budget on quality assurance and some think that's not enough.
Windsor's roads aren't lasting as long as they should thanks to what the engineering world calls "premature deterioration."
It's a problem city engineer Mark Winterton says his department is trying to get out in front of.
“This issue of premature deterioration and asphalt industry's involvement is something we've noticed in the last several years," says Winterton.
Councillor Irek Kusmierczyk believes the city may have a hard time with such limited financial resources.
“Having an insurance in place having a robust quality program is money well spent," says Kusmierczyk.
But right now, it's money the city isn't spending.
The city spends $22 million annually on roads and only $42,000 to assure quality product is being used. That's only 0.2 per cent of the overall road budget and Kusmierczyk says that's not enough.
“This is our asset, it's an expensive asset, roads are the most expensive asset in the city and having good quality assurance is critical," says Kusmierczyk.
Winterton agrees. A report to council states the ideal amount to spend on quality assurance, is three per cent of the road budget, or $660,000.
But that's not up to him.
"Would I like more money for quality assurance, absolutely, is that always the best or more prudent expenditure of money, I'll leave that to council's discretion."
Councillor Kusmierczyk also notes Windsor has yet to join other major cities in banning a material additive known as re-refined engine oil bottoms or re-ob.
Dr. Simon Hesp, an expert cited in the report to council, states re-ob as a common cause of premature cracking of asphalt.
"I think the city is a little bit behind in terms of those specs, I think we're moving in the right direction, but I think we're moving at a glacial pace,” says Hesp.
Winterton also points out the city is part of a provincial task-force on the issue.
"Our specs are leaning toward all things identified in this report,” says Winterton. “We're trying to work on something as it relates to having a spec that is both enforceable and is responsible to the taxpayers."
Winterton says the city is working to ensure all additive materials that are proven to harm the quality of roads are banned in the initial specifications.
He indicated the city will be modifying those specs to include re-refined engine oil-bottoms.
