KUALA LUMPUR: The Deputy Works Minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad, has announced that the work to widen lanes on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway is set to commence in the second quarter of 2024. This initiative is part of the long-term plans of the Ministry of Works to alleviate traffic congestion along this stretch of the highway. The proposal to widen the lanes, starting from the Gombak Toll Plaza to the Central Spine Road intersection in Bentong, has been approved and will be implemented by the highway’s concessionaire, ANIH Berhad. The main objective is to provide a more comfortable, efficient, and convenient highway that can effectively manage traffic congestion, especially during festive seasons and holidays.
According to Abdul Rahman, the project is currently in its initial and design stages, with the implementation details set to be finalized in the second quarter of next year. In addition to lane widening, the government is also planning to introduce a multi-lane free flow (MLFF) toll collection system to alleviate congestion at toll plazas along the highway. This announcement was made in response to a question raised by Khairil Nizam Khirudin regarding the government’s plans to address congestion between the Bentong and Gombak toll plazas, as well as the installation of solar-powered street lights in poorly lit areas.
In his response, Abdul Rahman stated that the government supports and encourages the adoption of green technology, including solar-powered street lights, through the concession agreements for new highways. However, the specifications and requirements for these technologies must be met. He also highlighted that it is typically the responsibility of the concession companies to provide street lights along their respective roads. On a separate note, Abdul Rahman announced that the emergency lane on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway has been activated as a smart lane, albeit only during festive seasons. This is due to the width of the emergency lane not meeting the requirements for a smart lane, which necessitates a width of 2.5 meters. As part of the lane widening project, the proposal to widen the emergency lane to 3 meters is also included.
