LVC Finds Non-Compliant Mineral Materials in Seven Cases During Unannounced Inspections

Latvijas valsts ceļi (LVC), the state road authority, has discovered non-compliant mineral materials in seven cases during unannounced inspections at road construction sites this year. Inspections were carried out at 21 sites, some multiple times, with a total of 56 samples taken—17 of asphalt and 39 of mineral materials.

Among the mineral material samples, seven showed non-compliance. Three were considered minor, while in two cases the non-compliant material was dismantled, with one of those halting further use and switching to an alternative material. One case involved material not yet installed, allowing a substitute, and another is under additional evaluation. The non-compliant parameters were granulometry and filtration coefficient.

For asphalt samples, three non-compliances were noted, two of which were minor. In one instance, additional samples were taken from the installed asphalt layer, and final assessment is pending.

LVC Technical Director Endijs Līdaks stated that unannounced inspections have been conducted for over a decade to encourage contractors and suppliers to meet contract requirements and promote fair competition. LVC’s quality system requires non-compliances to be corrected during construction; after completion, price reductions or extended warranties may be applied.

LVC, established in 2004 and state-owned, manages over 20,000 km of state roads and oversees quality through project managers, supervisors, and road laboratory tests.