FOR years, residents and students using the Jalan Langkawi-Jalan Chong Hwa intersection in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, have been dodging a gauntlet of safety hazards caused by extensive road damage.
The danger hit home for Wong Zhi Hong, 30, whose car chassis was damaged when he drove his car into a massive pothole during his morning commute to work.
“The potholes have been there for a long time and has become worse in recent months. It is dangerous,” he said.
James Teoh, SMJK Chong Hwa Kuala Lumpur Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) committee member, said the intersection was plagued by constant water pooling even on dry days.
He said the flooding forced students off the walkways.
“They are forced to walk in the middle of the road, weaving between moving vehicles to avoid the puddles.
“We are seeing about three to four near-misses or accidents daily at this intersection.”
Teoh added that while Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had previously patched the road, the fixes never last.
Instead, the craters continue to choke peak-hour traffic and trigger severe congestion.
Social activist Andre Lai, who voices issues affecting Wangsa Maju, said the root of the problem also involved construction works of utility agencies as well as heavy vehicles.
While the initial road damage was resolved following residents’ complaints, he said a compromised drainage system in front of the nearby low-cost flats in Jalan Langkawi had undone the progress.
“The drainage hasn’t been properly maintained for decades, and surrounding tree roots have broken the structure.
“The broken drain causes water to overflow continuously, which erodes the road surface.
“This is exactly why DBKL’s non-stop patching works keep failing,” Lai pointed out.
Repairing the underlying drainage infrastructure has proven complicated, as roadside stalls obstruct the workspace, he noted.
“Because some traders hold legitimate licence, it is not easy to ask them to move or cease operations,” he added.
Lai said that when he questioned DBKL on this matter, he was told that DBKL had inspected the area on April 30 and its Licensing Department issued temporary suspension notices to local traders to clear the area for repairs.
He was also told that DBKL Landscape Department officers present at the inspection would look at resolving the tree root problem.
After that, he added, DBKL informed that it would permanently fix the intersection roads using the comprehensive mill-and-pave resurfacing method.
