Issues will worsen earlier than it will get higher. That’s a line from Tan Sri Azmil Khalili Khalid, chairman of the AFA Group. Previously generally known as Anih Berhad, AFA is the concessionaire for the KL-Karak Freeway and Lebuhraya Pantai Timur (LPT) 1. He stated that in a media briefing right now on the Karak Freeway widening undertaking, asking for endurance from motorists for the subsequent 4 years.
In the event you haven’t already heard, the KL-Karak Freeway and LPT1, which connects Klang Valley to the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, shall be widened all the best way from Gombak to Bentong. The RM2.1 billion undertaking shall be beginning in January 2025 and the undertaking will take 48 months, or 4 years to finish. That’s the ‘ache’ Azmil was referring to, however from what we discovered right now, it is going to be definitely worth the wait.
Through the years, site visitors has been getting heavier on the Karak/LPT1, and the congestion throughout weekends, and particularly throughout festivals, is unhealthy, to place it mildly. The necessity for an growth is there, and AFA Group is spearheading this undertaking with out utilizing public funds. Will there be a rise in toll fares? Azmil says he hopes so, however in the end it’s within the arms of the federal government.
So as to add a lane all the best way from Gombak to Bentong is a large enterprise when you think about the terrain concerned – up and down the mountain vary, with a tunnel too. In a nutshell, the present twin three-lanes from the Gombak toll plaza to Genting Sempah shall be upgraded to twin four-lanes, which implies 4 lanes on all sides, equal to a 25% capability enhance for every route.
At current, it’s two lanes on all sides from Genting Sempah to the Bentong toll plaza – this shall be upgraded to a few. There gained’t be additional lanes for the Genting Sempah tunnel, which first half (Kuantan-KL) was accomplished in 1978 and second half (KL-Kuantan) opened in 1996. As a substitute, this undertaking will embody a model new tunnel, constructed 30 metres to the left of right now’s eastbound tunnel.
We have been instructed that with three tunnels, two can be utilized for one specific route when it’s tremendous busy, say eastbound through the balik kampung exodus. When Hari Raya holidays come to an finish, two tunnels can be utilized for westbound site visitors. With an ‘additional participant’ within the combine, upkeep works may also be carried out extra simply with none disruption.
Talking of disruptions, AFA Group’s senior VP Vijayaraj Govindarajoo says that there shall be no lane closures all through this undertaking, which is stunning contemplating the challenges concerned. As a substitute, they’ll make do with the emergency lane, however the group’s engineering chief acknowledged that after they put up cones/obstacles, motorists will robotically decelerate and there’s sure to be extra congestion.
Except for an additional lane from Gombak to Bentong and the brand new tunnel, AFA Group says that the improved Karak/LPT1 will function enhancements akin to a three-metre extensive shoulder a.okay.a. emergency lane. Apparently, such a large shoulder is rare for hilly highways, and it will enhance security.
One other facet that may enhance security for customers is that the Karak/LPT1 shall be absolutely lighted up – at the moment, solely the primary half of the stretch has lights.
These are the enhancements that we will see. These that aren’t seen, however no much less very important, embody slope stabilisation works, extending current vehicular field culverts as required, upgrading drainage techniques to stop flooding, relocating and reinstalling highway furnishings, and site visitors administration through the building part. By the best way, there can even be no land acquisition for this undertaking, as the additional lane will nonetheless be inside the freeway’s boundaries.
In the event you’re somebody who travels between the Klang Valley and East Coast typically, you’ll certainly welcome this improve and recognise that it’s an enormous enterprise when it comes to engineering and geography. Within the meantime, let’s bersusah-susah dahulu, bersenang-senang kemudian in 2029.
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