IPOH: The state government has expressed concern that opening only a portion of the West Coast Expressway (WCE) just for the Hari Raya period may lead to problems caused by an influx of vehicles.
Perak Public Utilities, Infrastructure, Agriculture and Plantation executive council member Abdul Yunus Jamhari said he was worried about this as any sudden escalation in the number of vehicles using the expressway during the period may lead to chaos.
“The opening of the 19.1km stretch of Section 8 from Hutan Melintang to Teluk Intan is most welcome.
“However, it is still subject to the gazettement process... whether this can be done before Hari Raya, I am not sure.”
Therefore, Yunus said, those making announcements about the opening of the highway should be more careful instead of jumping the gun on such matters.
“If only Section 8 is opened, motorists will still have to use the old trunk road at other stretches.
“Moreover, the rest and recreation areas (R&Rs) have also yet to be completed,” he said.
Earlier today WCE Sdn Bhd confirmed that only one of the three packages of the expressway (in Perak would be accessible to road users before Hari Raya.
Its managing director, Datuk Neoh Soon Hiong, said the stretch between Hutan Melintang and Teluk Intan was 97 per cent finished and it was the only stretch that could be opened before Hari Raya on June 5.
The other two packages which cover the stretches from Lekir to Changkat Melintang (Section 9) and from Changkat Chermin to Beruas (Section 10), would only be opened about one or two months after Hari Raya.
“There is still much that needs to be done and we can’t open it halfway just for the Hari Raya rush.
“The safety of motorists is our priority,” he today.
WCE said the opening date for the expressway would be announced by the government soon.
It said inspection of Section 8 had been done by the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) and covered all aspects of the physical completion of the highway.
“The inspectors found that section 8 has adhered to the conditions stipulated by MHA can be opened to road users pending gazettement,” WCE said in the statement.
The 223km WCE stretches from Jalan Banting-KLIA (B18) to the Tanjong Karang interchange (93.8km) in Selangor and from Jalan Persekutuan (FR5) in Hutan Melintang to the Changkat Jering Plaza Toll (139.2km) in Perak.
The three packages in Perak covers Hutan Melintang to Teluk Intan (19.1km), Lekir to Changkat Chermin (28km) and Changkat Chermin to Beruas (16.6km).
The Selangor package only involves the northern side of the state.
Once the expressway is ready, it will only take 45 minutes to travel from Klang to Sekinchan in Selangor, and about an hour from Kuala Lumpur to Manjung, Perak.