Identifying the Workmanship Elements That Affect the Cobblestone Road Quality in the Case of the Mekelle City

This paper presents the identification of the workmanship elements that affect the cobblestone road quality in the case of Mekelle City. It aims to investigate the key to identifying the workmanship elements that affect the cobblestone road quality in the case of Mekelle City. The study employs a methodology that combines questionnaire surveys and case studies. Besides, a total of 47 questionnaires were distributed, with 46 successfully collected. The respondents included 9 clients, 7 consultants, and 30 contractors, all of whom have direct involvement in cobblestone road construction projects. Additionally, a case study was conducted at 8 selected sites, consisting of three sites with various defects, two sites with minor defects, and three ongoing projects. Moreover, the collected data was subjected to both quantitative and qualitative analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The Relative Importance Index (RII) was utilized to identify the most affecting factors. The findings reveal that several workmanship factors significantly affect cobblestone road quality. The top influencing factors, as determined by RII, include mal-practices, degree of compaction, sub-base filler grading, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test, course thickness, base-course aggregate size, cobblestone parent rock, base-course aggregate grading, sub-base filler size, optimum moisture content, filler dust (00) grading, experience (skills), faulty specification, tree roots removal, cobblestone's joint thickness, measurements accuracy, cobblestone shape, and cobblestone pattern layout. Finally, the results of this study provide valuable insights for road construction professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders involved in cobblestone road projects in Mekelle City. Keywords: Cobblestone Roads Quality, Road Infrastructure, Road Network DOI: 10.7176/CER/18-1-01 Publication date: February 28th 2026