Part of busy Bangsar road in KL off-limits to traffic for 2 weeks after cave-in

KUALA LUMPUR: Repair works along Jalan Maarof, Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur will likely take two weeks after part of the road caved in following a downpour on May 1.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said they had taken immediate action after the incident and closed off the road since May 1 from 10pm until 5am to facilitate repairs.

“Two lanes at the stretch from Public Bank to the traffic lights along Jalan Maarof was closed to pave the road surface.

“One lane was reopened to motorists after paving the road surface while another lane, where the cavity is located, will remain closed for another two weeks,” it said in a statement.

Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah who visited the site Saturday night, praised the officers’ swift action in addressing the problem.

Photos of the damaged road surface and the appearance of a “cavity” along the road had gone viral on social media.

Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil also tweeted about the incident and urged the public to avoid the damaged road.

He also said that the road, which was damaged at numerous locations, was likely due to water overflowing beneath the road surface because of the culvert wall collapse.

Selamatkan Kuala Lumpur chairman Datuk M. Ali questioned DBKL on the preventive maintenance measures in place to monitor underground drains since the cavity exposed a large monsoon drain.

“I suspect that the collapse of the drain culvert wall had led rain water to gush all over, including below the road.

“The gushing water must have caused the road surface to pop up at several spots.”