RECURRENCE of potholes on Selangor roads is due to financial constraints in upgrading structurally damaged roads, said state infrastructure and public amenities, agricultural modernisation and agro-based industry committee chairman Izham Hashim.
“Selangor still has more than 50% of roads that are ‘expired’, with some exceeding more than 20 years.
“These roads need to be upgraded as a whole.
“Patching alone will not last as they are damaged structurally.
“However, we do not have the funds to do it at one go. So, upgrades are to be carried out in stages based on priority,” he said.
Izham said Selangor was in the midst of securing a new technology called Jatpatcher with the Public Works Department (JKR).
“For pothole patching, we are using two technologies known as the cold mix and hot mix.
“However, repairs done through this technology are not as lasting, and the road wears out again within a few weeks to a few months.
“We hope that we can get the new technology next year,” he said.
He added that the state government hoped to get daily data from the Smart Road Asset Management System (SRAMS) to identify poor road and road shoulder conditions.
Izham was replying to a supplementary question by Azmizam Zaman Huri (PH-Pelabuhan Klang) on road patching technology and methods adopted by road maintenance concessionaire Infrasel, especially during rainy seasons.
Infrasel is a subsidiary of Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd tasked to maintain Selangor roads.
“Infrasel is given a five-year concession to maintain Selangor roads in nine districts that stretch 4,061km from 2021 to 2025,” said Izham.
“The annual allocation for the maintenance is RM88,175,525.”
He said works conducted included pothole patching, road shoulder repairs, grass cutting, cleaning of drainage and pedestrian bridge as well as road markings.
He was when replying to Rozana Zainal Abidin (PH-Permatang) on the types of maintenance conducted by Infrasel.
