Motorists in Johor can look forward to smoother journeys sooner than expected, as two upgraded highway stretches along North-South Highway (NSH) and Senai-Desaru Expressway (SDE) may open by the first quarter of next year.
State works, transportation, infrastructure and communications committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said discussions were ongoing with highway operators, the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and contractors to open the upgraded stretches ahead of schedule.
“The 14.5km stretch between Sedenak and Kulai along NSH could open in February or March 2027, while the 9.34km SDE stretch between the Sungai Johor bridge and Sungai Semenchu could open in January or February.
“The plan is to open the route first, even though the construction work has not been fully completed,” he said.
Mohamad Fazli said the Sedenak-Kulai stretch formed part of Package A of Phase One of the NSH widening project.
Costing RM525mil, the package covers a 21.8km stretch between Senai Utara and Sedenak.
The Bukit Pasir assemblyman said construction work under Package A began in June 2024, with completion targeted for June 2027.
He said Package B, covering the stretch between Kulai and Senai Utara, began in June 2025 and was expected to be completed in December 2027.
He added that the Senai Utara-Sedenak stretch was prioritised because of its hilly terrain, which often forced heavy vehicles to slow down while climbing and causes traffic congestion.
On Phase Two of the NSH widening project, Mohamad Fazli said work on the 16.6km Sedenak-Simpang Renggam stretch, costing RM365.22mil, had reached 26.68% completion.
He said construction began on July 28, 2025, and was scheduled for completion on July 27, 2028.
“Phase Three, covering a 14km stretch between Simpang Renggam and Machap, involves a RM487mil allocation.
“Work is expected to begin this December, with the project taking approximately three years to complete.” he said.
Mohamad Fazli also said the state government would continue seeking approval for Phase Four to extend the widening works from Machap towards Ayer Hitam or as far as Yong Peng.
He said the SDE upgrading project between the Sungai Johor bridge and Sungai Semenchu was scheduled for completion in April 2027.
“The RM128.52mil project involves adding two lanes to provide a total of four lanes in both directions.
“Discussions are ongoing to determine whether the stretch can be opened to traffic ahead of schedule,” he said.
Mohamad Fazli said that for Phase 2A of the SDE project, the approximately 4.7km stretch between Cahaya Baru and Sungai Johor bridge was estimated to cost RM117mil.
He said construction was expected to begin towards the end of this year, with completion targeted for December 2029.
“The state government will also seek approval for the remaining Phase 2B, covering a 10.9km stretch between Sungai Semenchu and Penawar.”
