POTHOLES are a bane of every motorist’s existence – in addition to being one of the main causes of serious accidents that could result in severe injuries, they also require significant maintenance and repair which could sometimes cost millions of ringgit.
In a move that would make all our pothole woes a thing of the past, Fox Traffic Sdn Bhd had recently introduced its ground-breaking method for patching potholes.
The “XinLu” (new road) Pothole Patch is a new pothole patch that is easier to install in addition to being more economical and has the same level of durability as the conventional repair and maintenance technique of fixing potholes.
The XinLu Pothole Patch from China holds an international patent from the United States. Since its introduction in Malaysia in 2019, the pothole patch has undergone numerous pilot tests and UMLAB tests, where the many positive results conclusively validate the quality and durability of the product.
The product has also received permission from Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) for Malaysian temporary pothole road conservation.
The pothole patch has been demonstrated to endure for up to two to three years with proper application techniques, retaining the skid resistance reading far above JKR’s skid resistance criterion for road surfaces.
This latest technique of patching potholes has recently been adopted by the Senai-Desaru Expressway, where the XinLu patch material has made the repair of potholes relatively easier.
The combination of the XinLu patch and the cold-mix material has made temporary pothole patching even more lasting, especially during the rainy season as it provides a waterproof layer which prevents surface runoffs and seepage.
This, therefore, prolongs the lifespan of the temporary pothole patching when compared to the normal road maintenance method.
“Furthermore, we were able to reduce the cost and increase our workability to ensure the safety of road users,” said Senai Desaru Expressway Berhad Head of Maintenance Management Ts. Syed Ahmad Fairuz Syed Abdul Aziz.
The government is dedicated to repairing and improving the nation’s roads in accordance with this.
To help the local council address urgently needed repairs or concerns from the public, the government has allotted RM100,000 for each district. For improved connection between towns and their peripheries, RM1.5 bil is also set aside to rehabilitate and construct new roads in rural areas.
Product installation
In addition to being user-friendly and environmentally-friendly, the XinLu Pothole Patch is also known to be cost-effective as anyone with the right equipment and simple knowledge would be able to repair the potholes, thus making it perfect for highways and even neighbourhoods and shopping malls, among others.
The patched area can be immediately reopened to traffic after installation because there is no need for a curing period.
To ensure proper installation, Fox Traffic recommends the following guidelines:
- Do not install the patch in wet, oily or dusty conditions. The area to be covered must be cleaned of sand particles and dry in order for the patch to stick;
- Make sure the treated area does not have any structural issues;
- The patch to be affixed must be larger than the pothole size to prevent water from seeping into the pothole, or otherwise it will affect the performance of the product;
- The patch must be lightly heated especially on the edges before fixing it onto the bitumen to ensure that the product will immediately stick to the road; and
- When filling the pothole with cold/hot mix, the level of the filling must be at least 1-2cm higher than the existing road surface to prevent the treated area from sinking to below the existing road level or otherwise, it will potentially be another ponded area.
Product, storage and availability
The pothole patch comes in two sizes:
- 50cm x 100cm (Box)
- 100cm x 500cm (Roll)
The shelf life of the product is between 3 to 5 years, and therefore it is best to store them in a cold, dry area and keep them from being stacked higher than five layers high.
The pothole repair service offered by Fox Traffic is a cost-effective and safe solution to improve traffic safety and avoid accidents. – March 7, 2023
