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 often called Anih Berhad, AFA is the concessionaire for the KL-Karak Freeway and Lebuhraya Pantai Timur (LPT) 1. He stated that in a media briefing at the moment on the Karak Freeway widening undertaking, asking for endurance from motorists for the subsequent 4 years.
In case you haven’t already heard, the KL-Karak Freeway and LPT1, which connects Klang Valley to the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, will likely be widened all the best way from Gombak to Bentong. The RM2.1 billion undertaking will likely 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 realized at the moment, 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 dangerous, to place it mildly. The necessity for an enlargement 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 endeavor 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 will likely be upgraded to twin four-lanes, which suggests 4 lanes on either side, equal to a 25% capability improve for every course.
At current, it’s two lanes on either side from Genting Sempah to the Bentong toll plaza – this will likely be upgraded to a few. There received’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 an alternative, this undertaking will embrace a model new tunnel, constructed 30 metres to the left of at the moment’s eastbound tunnel.
We have been informed that with three tunnels, two can be utilized for one explicit course when it’s tremendous busy, say eastbound in the course of 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 will also be performed extra simply with none disruption.
Talking of disruptions, AFA Group’s senior VP Vijayaraj Govindarajoo says that there will likely be no lane closures all through this undertaking, which is shocking contemplating the challenges concerned. As an alternative, they may make do with the emergency lane, however the group’s engineering chief acknowledged that after they put up cones/limitations, motorists will mechanically decelerate and there’s sure to be extra congestion.
Other than an additional lane from Gombak to Bentong and the brand new tunnel, AFA Group says that the improved Karak/LPT1 will function enhancements corresponding to a three-metre broad shoulder a.okay.a. emergency lane. Apparently, such a large shoulder is unusual for hilly highways, and it will enhance security.
One other side that can enhance security for customers is that the Karak/LPT1 will likely 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 important, embrace slope stabilisation works, extending present vehicular field culverts as required, upgrading drainage methods to stop flooding, relocating and reinstalling highway furnishings, and site visitors administration in the course of 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 case you’re somebody who travels between the Klang Valley and East Coast usually, you’ll certainly welcome this improve and recognise that it’s a large endeavor when it comes to engineering and geography. Within the meantime, let’s bersusah-susah dahulu, bersenang-senang kemudian in 2029.
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