Potholes plaguing Malaysian roads: New solution found?

KOTA BHARU - The increase in traffic volume, especially heavy vehicles, and the flow of water in the soil structure beneath the pavement are among the causes of road surface imperfections, such as damage and potholes, which can lead to fatal accidents.

According to statistics released by the Road Accident Management System (RAMS), Works Ministry (KKR), a total of 181 road accidents, including 23 fatal cases, due to potholes were recorded between 2022 and July this year.

Recognising the problems occurring on federal roads across the country, which span 6,218.47 kilometres, Public Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said KKR has used a new pavement material known as 'Specialty Mix' for road maintenance to improve the durability of the road structure and extend the lifespan.

"The Public Works Department (JKR) continuously explores new knowledge and innovations in road construction, including construction machinery, work methods, and materials, to optimize the cost, time, and quality of road construction.

"Changes in the specifications of road construction materials are also consistently considered based on current development needs, and they believe that Specialty Mix technology will become the primary paving material if it proves to outperform conventional materials,” he told Bernama.

He said the specialty mix incorporates additives into the basic ingredients of the asphalt mix-bitumen and cement aggregates-which serve as reinforcements for the asphalt mix.

There are eight specialty mix pavement materials used in Malaysia, namely Super Fiber Mix (SFM), Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA), Cuplump Modified Asphalt (CMA), Polymer Modified Asphalt (PMA), Latex Modified Asphalt (Latex), Crumb Rubber Modified Asphalt (CRMA), Fiber Modified Asphalt (FMA) and MR6-Plastic.

Nanta said the Specialty Mix technology was designed to address specific pavement issues, such as those found on heavy vehicle routes, areas with high surface runoff, and climbing routes, and it can also enhance the durability of the road surface structure.

"There are four main components in the mixture of materials which are coarse and fine aggregates, fillers, bitumen and additives depending on the recipe of the mixture to provide good resistance to damage from rutting and fatigue cracking.

"The type of materials used will also be selected based on several criteria such as areas frequented by heavy vehicles, especially on main roads and industrial roads, winding roads, climbing routes, intersections and the distance of asphalt supply to the repair location," he said.

Meanwhile, JKR Senior Director (Road Branch) Datuk Ir Ibrahim Esa said maintenance had been conducted at 1,130 locations on federal roads nationwide using specialty mix materials from 2018 to 2023.

The locations included Lingkaran Pulau Indah Fasa 3, Jalan Perindustrian Rawang (FT3209) in Selangor, Jalan Pintasan Cameron Highlands at Jalan Baharu from Habu to Tanah Rata, Pahang, and Jalan Raya Simpang Pulai-Lojing-Gua Musang- Kuala Berang (Pakej 6A) from Aring to the Kelantan and Terengganu border.

"This Specialty Mix road paving method and material are seen as increasingly advanced and have the potential to be implemented, provided that the initial allocation for the road infrastructure project considers new technological elements.

"It should be supported by all parties to meet the challenges faced by developed countries and to ensure optimal project life cycle costs," he said.

Following are the eight Specialty Mix paving materials used in Malaysia and their characteristics:

1) Super Fibre Mix (SFM) - The added fibres give asphalt 3D strength to asphalt.

2) Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) - Using a unique mix design with additives from cellulose fibre.

3) Cuplump Modified Asphalt (CMA) - Green technology pavement with the use of natural scrap rubber as an additive.

4) Polymer Modified Asphalt (PMA) - Using polymer as an additive to increase the strength of modified bitumen.

5) Latex Modified Asphalt (Latex) - Green technology pavement using natural latex.

6) Crumb Rubber Modified Asphalt (CRMA) - Green technology pavement, used tyre waste processed into crumb rubber.

7) Fibre Modified Asphalt (FMA) - Using additives from oil palm fibre.

8) MR6-Plastic - Green technology pavement using plastic waste - BERNAMA