KUANTAN: The Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway (KLK) operator, Anih Bhd, was alerted to close a section of the dual-carriageway near the Bentong toll plaza after soil movements were detected in the vicinity yesterday.
Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL)., the project owner of the East Coast Rail Link(ECRL), said the measures were taken prior to the presence of the sinkhole.
"When our monitoring system for the underground tunnel works detected soil settlements in the vicinity, our EPCC (engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning ) contractors immediately notified Anih to close the affected area to traffic.
"This was undertaken before the sinkhole emerged, allowing for the prompt implementation of necessary mitigating measures. Our team has since been coordinated to provide support to mitigate the issues.
"MRL senior officials along with China Communications Construction (CCC-ECRL) and EPPC contractors have briefed the relevant stakeholders including Malaysian Highway Authority, Anih and Fire and Rescue Department on the incident," it said in a Facebook posting.
MRL said it has adopted a serious approach on the incident at KM66.1 of the KLK and investigations to determine the real cause of the sinkhole is still ongoing.
Meanwhile, the ECRL project teams dispatched machinery and manpower to initiate repair works at the affected site to cover the sinkhole and mass concrete was used to cover the hole today morning.
"The repair works is progressing according to target and is expected to be completed later today," it read.
It is learnt that swift action by MRL had prompted Anih Bhd to divert the traffic to other alternative routes and there were no vehicles near the section when the road caved-in.
Earlier, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said initial investigations found there were ECRL underground tunnel construction works across the highway in the respective location.
Last night, a sinkhole measuring 10m long and 7m deep appeared at KM66.1 of the KLK near the Bentong toll plaza forcing the dual-carriageway to be closed to all vehicles. The sinkhole formed after the road caved in.