New asphalt lab to improve road quality, support key infrastructure projects

The Barbados National Standards Institution (BNSI) is poised to revolutionise the island’s infrastructure and address longstanding concerns about the quality of its roads with the introduction of an asphalt laboratory, set to be operational by early 2025.

The lab aims to improve the quality of road materials, support critical infrastructure projects like the airport runway, and further position Barbados as a leader in climate-resilient construction standards.

Acting Deputy Director of the BNSI, Fabian Scott, outlined the initiative during the 2024 BNSI Visibility Conference on Friday, noting that the procurement of specialised equipment is well underway, with some already on-island and others en route.

He also shared that training programmes for staff will run concurrently with the set-up of the lab for it to become operational in the shortest possible time.

“In the coming months, we are looking to set up a new asphalt laboratory. We are currently procuring the equipment, so some of the assets are on the sea and some are already here. We are just waiting to have the complete lot of equipment so we can begin to set up the lab,” Scott said.

“We also need to train people; we will be doing that simultaneously. New staff will be hired who have previous experience in working in and managing asphalt laboratories. We’ll be working with them to have the staff trained and certified.”

The lab, Scott said, is a response to longstanding concerns about road quality in Barbados. It will also provide testing services for specialised projects such as airport runways which, according to him, require adherence to stringent international standards.

“We are looking to ensure that the quality and grade of the asphalt we have here is good and superior. For example, the airport runway has very specific requirements and needs to be paved on a cycle. It is easier and more cost-effective for the construction firms who have been awarded the contract for paving the airport to come to us to get the testing done,” Scott said.

The BNSI representative further noted the lab’s importance in supporting the local economy, particularly construction firms.

“[We need] to have an internationally approved runway because if we don’t have a runway, we don’t have people, business… coming. So we are making that intervention as part of our support of the macro economy,” Scott added.

The facility will also benefit national road networks and private developments, offering testing to improve pavement durability.

“We do believe that it will help in a lot of ways with respect to our pavement programmes, so we look forward to having it up and running, ” Scott said.

Minister of Industry, Innovation, Science, and Technology, Marsha Caddle, commended the initiative, describing it as a major milestone for the region and the Barbados economy.

“Of all the things BNSI has worked on, the new asphalt lab and what it means for the region and the income-earning trajectory of the BNSI, is one that excites me. I know it’s targeted for completion in the next quarter of next year,” Caddle said.

She addressed public scepticism about the durability of roads, emphasising the importance of setting higher standards for materials and methods.

“There’s often a lot of conversation about the building of roads in Barbados. One of the areas of greatest conversation has to do with the notion that as soon as the road is built, then another agency has to come and carry out works that affect that road,” Caddle said.

She noted the role of ageing underground infrastructure and heavy machinery in contributing to road deterioration, linking these challenges to the lab’s importance.

“This is where BNSI comes in with respect to building methods, rehabilitation standards, and the quality of the material being used to make sure it fits our environment and is resilient,” the minister said.

Further noting the lab’s potential for regional and international influence, the minister said, “The lab will enable Barbados to set a standard for asphalt production that has to do with the effects of the climate crisis on our infrastructure and the increase in vehicular use. This is also an opportunity to provide the service to the region… and the world.”