ISKANDAR PUTERI: Frequent usage by overloaded lorries has contributed to the damage on the Pasir Gudang Highway, says Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh.
The state works, transportation and infrastructure committee chairman said while it was important to fix the pothole-laden highway, it was not the only solution to improve the safety of road users.
“I have spoke to the Road Transport Department who informed me that there are lorries carrying some 60 tonnes of weight that are passing through the highway when the road was designed to withstand vehicles with a maximum of only 30 tonnes.
“There is also a lot of drilling done by utility companies in the area and this has contributed to the problems on the road.
“On top of that, I have also seen some heavy vehicles parked at the side of the road and this could be damaging as (the road shoulder is) not suitable for parking,” he told the media on the sidelines of the state assembly meeting here Sunday (March 19).
He noted that the state government’s focus was not only on fixing the Pasir Gudang Highway but also to make sure that the right kind of vehicles use it and that drilling is done properly.
“We have received an allocation of RM57mil from the Federal Government to widen the highway from four lanes to six.
“On top of that, we have also received an allocation of RM36.4mil to fix the (federal) road between Mersing and Johor Baru, RM28.6mil to fix the road between Muar, Batu Pahat and Johor Baru as well as RM34.4mil to fix the road between Johor Baru, Pontian and Muar,” he said.
On Thursday (March 16), Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan expressed his hope that the Federal government would give some allocation to repair the Pasir Gudang Highway as well as the Jalan Johor Baru-Mersing, which are laden with potholes and pose a danger to road users.
