Many roads damaged during in wet season

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The head of the Jakarta Public Works Agency, Fodly Misbach, estimates that at least 5 percent of the city's roads have been damaged during this rainy season, and asks drivers to remain patient as the potholes worsen already bad traffic.

"Yes, we have received reports from our staff members in the field that some sections of road have been damaged by the rain," Fodly said on Saturday.

He said the agency would be unable to begin patching up the roads until the end of the wet season, which the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency says could be in the middle of March. The meteorology agency is also warning of more possible flooding.

"We need sunny days to get the best results for the repairs," Fodly said.

Jakarta has over 7,576 kilometers of road, many kilometers of which were underwater for days when floods hit much of the city on Feb. 19 and Feb. 20, forcing thousands of residents to leave their homes for temporary shelters. The flooding also claimed three lives.

Many transportation experts and urban activists say corruption in the city administration has resulted in poorly constructed roads that too easily crumble when it rains or under heavy traffic.

Jakartans also frequently complain of stalled roadwork, which sometimes takes months to complete, only making traffic worse.

The Jakarta Post observed that a damaged section of road on Jl. Jatinegara Barat I in East Jakarta, for instance, was getting worse, with potholes growing deeper and wider and loose gravel covering the road's surface.

Similar damage was spotted on Jl. Otto Iskandardinata in East Jakarta, Jl. Raya Kebayoran Lama in South Jakarta and Jl. Pos Pengumben in West Jakarta.