KUANTAN: The eastbound lanes at the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway (KLK) near Bentong toll plaza, which was closed after a sinkhole appeared on Tuesday, has been reopened to all vehicles.
However, the westbound stretch (towards Kuala Lumpur) remains closed to all vehicles and a contra-flow lane has been activated in the respective area.
Anih Bhd, the concessionaire of the KLK and the East Coast Expressway Phase 1 (LPT1) said, the affected section – KM66.1 of the KLK towards Kuantan – was opened at 11pm yesterday.
"Motorists travelling to Kuala Lumpur can utilise the contra lanes between KM65.9 and KM 67.9 (westbound towards Kuala Lumpur). The stretch was opened at 10am today," read the statement.
Last night, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi apologised for the delay in reopening the road.
"On behalf of the ministry, I apologise for the delay to reopen this stretch. This has to be done in order to ensure that the road condition is safe for all users. The safety and life of road users is our priority," he wrote on Facebook.
The stretch was scheduled to be opened at 5pm yesterday before it was postponed to 7pm and later delayed to 10.30pm. Finally, only the eastbound stretch was opened at 11pm.
A section of the KLK near Bentong was closed to all vehicles after a sinkhole caused part of the dual-carriageway to collapse about 8.34pm on Tuesday.