Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Frequency of Inspections to Detect Potholes on Roads, and Review of Design and Materials for Road Construction

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Transport in view of reports of nearly 100 potholes detected in the first 12 days of 2025 

a.     what percentage of LTA road inspections are triggered by public complaints as compared to scheduled checks; 

b.     whether inspection frequency is seasonally adjusted for wear and tear due to the monsoon season; 

c.     how are contractors held to durability standards for pothole repairs; and 

d.     whether high-traffic and rainfall-prone road designs are being updated with water-resistant materials and improved construction standards.

Reply by Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat:

1.     The Land Transport Authority (LTA) regularly inspects roads for defects, including potholes. During periods of prolonged heavy rainfall, LTA conducts additional inspections and dedicates more resources to carry out the necessary repairs. To complement these inspections, members of the public can also report on potholes via public feedback channels. Last year, these public feedback channels enabled LTA to detect around 30% of potholes. The remaining 70% were detected via LTA’s inspections.

2.     LTA has also been proactively carrying out road resurfacing at several locations across the island as a preventive measure, to reduce the need for pothole repairs.

3.     Through these efforts, the total number of potholes detected each year has dropped by almost 70% from 2021 to 2024. LTA will continue to closely monitor our road conditions and explore new solutions that can improve road durability.