ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor state government has introduced the Johor Baru Congestion Action Committee to oversee all future roadworks being developed, especially around the city centre.
Johor works, transportation, and infrastructure committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said the committee was introduced after the uproar from road users regarding the massive congestion on several main roads in September.
“The congestion in the previous month was caused by several factors - the main reason being the 142 road development and upgrading projects this year where all of the projects were done almost simultaneously.
“Half of the projects were conducted by the Federal Government, the Public Works Department (JKR), and the local council.
“There was also miscommunication between the three project owners, so we hope that with the introduction of this committee, this will not happen again for future development,” he said when met by reporters at the state assembly in Kota Iskandar here on Sunday (Nov 26).
Mohamad Fazli added that all 142 projects are the 27 roadworks at the Pasir Gudang Highway and 115 roadworks in Johor Baru, all of which had been completed before the Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2023 (APCW 2023) on Nov 13.
“We have to complete all of the project before APCW 2023 starts to avoid making the congestion worse,” he added.
Mohamad Fazli added that the new cold in-place recycling (CIPR) road treatment also requires the road to be closed for about 12 hours before it can be used by vehicles.
“The CIPR treatment uses pavement rehabilitation and stabilisation with cement, and JKR has actually found a way to cut short the road hardening process from 72 hours to 12 hours,” he explained.
