When roadworks were done correctly

FOLLOWING the recent potholes uproar on social media, I recalled that in the late 1980s and early 1990s, road conditions were much better than today. In those days, I remember that the Public Works Department (JKR), which looked after federal and state roads, had its own resources to perform its work, and the work was closely monitored by road works technicians. These people treated assignments like God’s instructions and were truly dedicated, not to mention precise.

I remember after every downpour on work days, a JKR lorry would travel around to identify roads that had water standing on their surfaces, and they would then create a temporary channel to let the water drain away to the nearest drain or the verge. The next day, they would perform a permanent repair. When it came to potholes, the affected area was repaired properly: make straight cuts around the hole, clean up debris and water, apply tack coat, premix, and compact. The end result lasted a long time while the repaired surface remained at the same height as the road.