05 Mar 2014

Potholes are not a result of inferior materials or poor workmanship but rather due to ingression of water or moisture into the road pavement structures.

The Minister of Infrastructure , Science and Technology, Mr Johnnie Swartz said this in Parliament on March 3, on behalf of the Minister of Transport and Communications.

Mr Swartz said the potholes were also due to lack of timely preventative maintenance, axle over loading or when the road has reached its design life span.

He told the house that the materials that were used to rehabilitate tarred roads were crushed stone base material for repair of the base layer, asphaltic premix for potholes patching and slurry seal for repair of small cracks and unevenness of road surface.

The minister said the surface seal was applied, either being a single seal, double seal or asphalt concrete. “The quality of the material used is of the required standard,” he said.

Member of Parliament for Gaborone West South, Mr Botsalo Ntuane had wanted the minister to state the type of materials used to rehabilitate tarred roads and also whether the problem of potholes on roads and parking lots is caused by the use of inferior materials or poor workmanship.

He asked the minister if he would consider using materials that are durable and better in terms of quality to rehabilitate roads. BOPA