Dive Brief:
- The asphalt plant operated by Brooks Construction — the highway contractor the Indiana Department of Transportation has said owes them $5.15 million for a bad asphalt job — was on INDOT probation at the time it started work on that project, RTV6 reported.
- INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield said INDOT had placed Brooks' asphalt plant on probation in 2011 for problems with the contractor's asphalt mix, but INDOT allowed Brooks to start work on the project anyway. Brooks was then taken off probation halfway through the project. "Our assertion is the recipe they submitted does not match the material that were used on site," Wingfield said.
- Brooks, which has refused to refund any money to INDOT, is the only contractor so far to be held financially responsible since INDOT began its investigation into the faulty asphalt on state roads.
Dive Insight:
The dispute between Brooks and INDOT is rapidly turning into a finger-pointing match, possibly exposing questionable practices on both sides. Brooks' asphalt mix was of high enough concern that INDOT felt they needed state monitoring via probation.
In a statement, John Brooks, executive vice president of Brooks Construction said, "INDOT required additional information from one of our portable plants which was involved in the SR 25 project. In addition, INDOT conducted 72 tests on our asphalt mix at the time of SR 25 construction and all were approved."
INDOT is still investigating the work of more than 40 contractors involved with nearly 200 road projects, including additional ones completed by Brooks, but have yet to reveal further results.