KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- A total of 59 kilometres (km) of protocol and main roads in the capital, covering about 1.3 million square metres, will be resurfaced in stages under the Eight-Road Resurfacing Programme.
The two-phase initiative aims to extend the lifespan of road surfaces by up to 50 per cent, while ensuring the roads remain pothole-free.
The first phase, involving five routes, began this month and is being implemented in stages, at a total cost of RM61.64 million, with an implementation period of 24 weeks.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the main focus of Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) 2026 Budget was to return to basic services to ensure the welfare and safety of city dwellers.
“For this expenditure, the lifespan (of the roads) is expected to increase by up to 50 per cent compared with standard patching, thereby reducing maintenance costs by up to 40 per cent. This time the expenditure is substantial, but we want to ensure it is worthwhile,” she said at a press conference after inspecting the road resurfacing works here tonight.
Also present was Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud.
Hannah said the investment was also being closely monitored to ensure the quality of the resurfacing works remained at an optimum level.
“These works are only carried out at night, between 10 pm and 5 am, so as not to disrupt peak traffic hours. Therefore, road users are asked to be patient as these main roads cannot be fully closed. This is the best balance we can achieve,” she said.
Meanwhile, Fadlun said DBKL had allocated a special budget of more than RM100 million for the comprehensive resurfacing project, with the second phase involving routes spanning 15 km at a cost of RM43 million.
He said the resurfacing works, using the ‘mill and pave’ method, were chosen as they offered greater durability compared with conventional patching methods.
The first phase involves five main routes, namely Sultan Iskandar Highway–Jalan Damansara–Jalan Istana; Syed Putra Roundabout–Mid Valley Megamall (inbound and outbound); Jalan Sultan Ismail (Jalan Kuching slip road–Jalan Imbi); Jalan Ampang (Intermark slip road–Jalan Raja Chulan); and the highway entrance slip road facing the old airport (Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Highway Phase 1) up to the SPE Highway entrance slip road and the SPE Highway entrance slip road to the arch (Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Highway Phase 2).
Meanwhile, Phase Two, scheduled to begin next September, involves three routes over an implementation period of 24 weeks, namely Batu Caves Roundabout–Jalan Sultan Sulaiman Junction (Jalan Kuching and Jalan Kinabalu); Kampung Pandan Roundabout–PJD Tower (Jalan Tun Razak); and the arch to the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor border (Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Highway Phase 3).
The use of Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA14) and light-reflective thermoplastic paint is also being implemented to improve visibility and heavy-load durability, thereby enhancing road user safety.
-- BERNAMA