The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) has reactivated its aggregates technical committee in response to growing concern about the condition of roads across the country.

The announcement also follows the recent declaration of the situation as a national emergency by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

In a release today, the BSJ said the move is part of its commitment to ensuring the quality and durability of the materials used for road construction and repair.

Aggregates, a critical component in road building, are governed by standards established by the bureau to maintain consistency, performance, and safety.

The BSJ, leaders of the national standards development process, has the only aggregates lab in Jamaica that has been accredited to the internationally recognized ISO 17025 standard for testing aggregates.

The reactivated committee will hold its initial meeting on January 9, next year via Zoom.

During this meeting, members and interested parties will review the existing standards for aggregates and determine whether revisions or entirely new standards are necessary to address the current and future needs of road infrastructure projects.

There are at least 12 local standards that address aggregates and methods for sampling and testing of mineral aggregates, sands, and fillers.

Additionally, the technical committee will consider areas of road design and construction, road-paving materials, and civil engineering.

This effort aligns with the prime minister’s recent announcement of funds to be allocated for road repairs across Jamaica.

The BSJ added that it recognizes the importance of ensuring that materials and methods used in these initiatives meet stringent quality benchmarks to improve the long-term resilience of the country’s road network.