KUALA LUMPUR: It will take RM4bil to repair all hazardous roads in the country, but due to budget constraints, the government will prioritise critically damaged roads, says Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
“We already have complete data on the dangerous roads and the financial requirements,” said the Works Minister, Bernama reported.
“If we were to repair them all at once, we would need RM4bil. Since we don’t have that allocation, we have to do it in stages,” he told reporters after attending the ministry’s Gawai open house here yesterday.
The ministry has already identified roads that are in critical condition through its existing database, and repairs will be carried out based on urgency, he added.
“We know which roads are severely damaged and we will prioritise those. Roads that are damaged but not critically will be attended to later.”
The ministry is using the Pavement Condition Assessment (PCA) method to determine areas that need immediate attention.
The issue of road repairs is at the forefront of national conversation following the death of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students in a bus crash along the Gerik-Jeli stretch of the East-West Highway on June 9.
For the Gerik-Jeli route, the PCA was conducted from March 13 to May 13, using advanced technologies, such as the Multi Laser Profiler (MLP) and Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD).
Nanta said improvements to the highway have already been planned for this year, involving an allocation of RM55mil.
The upgrades include the installation of 385 streetlights and road line markings to improve visibility and safety at night.
He added that the ministry was open to all public feedback on how to improve the safety of the nation’s roads.
“We take into account all views – from the public, netizens and relevant stakeholders. We will evaluate every suggestion carefully,” he said.
