Dominating Factors of Road Failures: Perceptions of Key Stakeholders in the Small Island Developing State of Trinidad and Tobago

Accelerated global population increase, socioeconomic and environmental changes have resulted in spiralling maintenance costs for pavements. Current understanding of pavement deterioration fails to address this longstanding issue, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are not immune the recurring expense incurred from degradation. Existing academic debates on design construction inadequacies longevity do regular challenges. This research examines reasons frequent failures explains how they affect Trinidad Tobago’s future economic development. A questionnaire was completed by 120 contractors, consultants, state agency experts specialising road maintenance. The findings revealed an assessment Relative Importance Index (RII) that utility cuts Water Sewerage Authority were most important (0.904), followed culture (0.898), quality work (workmanship) (0.888), poor drainage facilities, overloaded vehicles (0.854). Climate change (temperature) lowest-ranked cause overall (0.568). also show growth development directly indirectly affected, resulting high vehicle running costs, longer travel times, higher prices fundamental products services. Recommendations made aid engineers policymakers identifying critical causes reducing adverse consequences failure. Keywords: Maintenance, Pavement deterioration, Perceptions, Road failures, Tobago