Gov't approves fourth lane for North-South highway

The government has approved the addition of a fourth lane to the North-South Highway from the Shah Alam to Rawang junctions, Bukit Lanjan to Jalan Duta and Nilai Utara to Seremban, in both directions. 
   
Works Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor, said the move was taken following increased traffic on the highway. 
   
"On a normal day, 1.2 million vehicles ply the North-South Highway while on weekends it's 1.4 million, which spike to 1.6 million vehicles during festive seasons. Whereas traffic in the East Coast was only 33,000 vehicles on normal days and 175,000 during festive seasons," he told reporters after his Aidilfitri open house in Tampin today.  

Shaziman, who is also Tampin member of parliament, said the project consisted of four packages which were, the 16.1 kilometres Shah Alam junction to Sungai Buloh, Bukit Lanjan to Jalan Duta Toll Plaza (7km), Sungai Buloh to Rawang junction (13.1km) and Nilai Utara to Seremban (27km).     

He said initial preparations for the construction of the fourth lane from Shah Alam to Rawang and Bukit Lanjan to Jalan Duta, were almost complete and land works would start soon.   

"Construction costs will be borne by Projek Lebuh Raya Utara-Selatan (Plus) and it is expected to be ready by early 2015," he said.  

Shaziman said he has also asked Plus to identify new locations on the highway for additional rest and recreation (R&R) areas to meet the increasing demand of motorists.  

"If we don't have more R&R areas, the existing ones will be congested. I have asked Plus to identify new R&R areas and at the same time upgrade existing ones in terms of parking space. 

There is also a big distance between one R&R to another, so Plus needs to look into this, he added.  

- Bernama