MEMBERS of the public should understand that potholes and its rapid developments are because roads in Fiji are no longer waterproof.
This was revealed to The Fiji Times by Fiji Roads Authority's manager change, Mike Rudge following various concerns raised by the public on the status of roads in the country.
Mr Rudge said for the past 10 years there had been little resealing of the network.
He said the FRA was concerned about the poor condition of roads throughout Fiji.
"We are aware that this is a fundamental reason behind why the government established the FRA. The current condition of roads has occurred as a result of poor decision-making and treatment selection," he said.
Mr Rudge said resealing of roads was critical when the life of the road surface was 10 years and that Fiji experiences such heavy and frequent rainfall.
"This year the FRA expects to complete between 40 and 50 kilometres of reseals. Next year we are programing approximately a further 100 kilometres of reseals.
"In addition, we are programing between 30 and 40 kilometres of road rehabilitation and more than 100 kilometres of converting sealed to unsealed roads."
Mr Rudge said this was the first such investment in about 10 years.
"People should start to see an improvement in the network as a result. However, 10 years of poor maintenance and lack of reseals cannot be reversed in one year. It will take three to four years before a sustained difference is seen."
He said most of the time maintenance works are not carried out on roads in rural areas which results in the road conditions getting worse.
"Since taking over the road network in January this year, the FRA has noted that many of the old Department of National Road staff and teams that complete the maintenance do not have the experience or skills to complete many routine maintenance activities."
Mr Rudge said the existing bureaucratic system also shows that the existing systems are open to manipulation and corruption.
"A key part of the new road management regime is the decision to complete road maintenance, reseals and reconstruction by contract."
He said this was expected to overcome most, if not all, of the existing problems.
Mr Rudge also highlighted that until recently expenditure for road works was $100million per annum but this year government budgeted about $200million and looking to further increasing the amount next year.