RAUB: Motorists travelling from the Klang Valley to Kelantan will no longer need to travel into Bentong and Raub town, cutting their travel time between both towns from some two hours to just 30 minutes.
A 6.4km section of the 45.3km toll-free four-lane dual-carriageway between Bentong and Raub was launched today. It is part of the Central Spine Road (CSR) project connecting Bentong and Kuala Krai, Kelantan. The 350km CSR will be completed in 2026.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway (KLK) and the East Coast Expressway (LPT) road users travelling to Lipis will no longer need to travel into Bentong and Raub town.
"The current stretch will reduce travel time to some 30 minutes during the festive and school holiday season compared to some two hours spent on the Federal road for those who travel into Bentong and Raub towns.
"The road will serve as an vital stretch for those travelling back to their respective hometown for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri festival and reduce the risk of accidents as the junctions are installed with traffic lights," he said in his speech at Section 5A: Raub bypass along the CSR here today.
He had earlier officiated the 6.4km stretch with Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.
Motorists plying the KLK (east coast-bound) can enter the CSR near the Bentong Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) while road users from Kuantan and Temerloh can exit the East Coast Expressway after the Karak toll plaza towards the Benus industrial area and enter CSR through a slip road near Kampung Benus.
Motorists will later exit at Kampung Sempalit junction in Raub to resume their journey along the existing single-carriageway, Jalan Raub-Lipis which connects both towns.
CSR, which deploys the Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) method, comprises six phases: from Kuala Krai to Jambatan Sungai Lakit, Kelantan; Jambatan Sungai Lakit to Gua Musang, Kelantan; Gua Musang to Kampung Relong, Pahang; Kampung Relong to Raub, Pahang ; Raub to Bentong; and Bentong to East Coast Expressway junction.
Meanwhile, Nanta said the Pahang government had submitted a proposal to build a Rest and Recreation (R&R) stop along the CSR near Bentong and the ministry was studying the matter.
"We will look into the proposal and decide on the rest area. If the state government has submitted the proposal, I am sure the rest area is something important for road users along the stretch," he said.
Meanwhile, Nanta said plans to expand Section 6 of CSR project between Karak and Simpang Pelangai will be included in the Fifth Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan(12MP).
"We will seek the approval from the Economy Ministry for Section 6 under the Fifth Rolling Plan. There are plans to expand CSR in stages towards Negri Sembilan and Johor in the future," he said.