Heavy vehicles banned from three NSE stretches during peak hours

PETALING JAYA: In a bid to ease traffic congestion on the North-South Expressway during morning peak hours, heavy vehicles have been banned from certain stretches from Aug 2.

The ban applies to vehicles, except buses, weighing 10,000kg and more.

These vehicles must stay off designated stretches from 6.30am to 9.30am on weekdays.

The routes were the New Klang Valley Expressway between Shah Alam and Jalan Duta, the North-South Expressway between Sungai Buloh and Bukit Lanjan and Federal Highway Route 2 between Subang and Sg Rasau.

Plus Expressways Berhad managing director Noorizah Abd Hamid said the slow movement of heavy vehicles was a main contributing factor to traffic congestion especially during peak hours.

“The situation is made worse when these heavy vehicles are stranded due to breakdowns and accidents,” said Noorizah.

The ban is in line with the existing one, implemented by Kuala Lumpur City Hall on heavy vehicles entering the city during the morning and evening peak hours.

Noorizah said Plus would study the possibility of extending the ban to evening peak hours.

She also advised lorry drivers to use alternative routes (see map).Federal Traffic Chief SAC Datuk Abdul Aziz Yusof said those who violated the ban could be compounded up to RM300 and if they decide to challenge the matter in court and lose, they can be fined up to RM1,000, jailed three months or both.

The police, he said, would work closely with Plus to come out with the best mechanism to enforce the ban.

However, exemption will be given to vehicle operators that can prove that their goods must arrive at the ports at specific times.

In an immediate response, Fede­ration of Malaysian Manufacturer president Tan Sri Mustafa Mansur said the move would not cause much impact as lorries could still use other routes to get to their destinations.

“Although it is further, the cost of diesel will be the same as lorries are not stuck in traffic jams if they take the highway,” he said while urging haulier companies to reschedule their deliveries to prevent delays in the arrival of goods.

Pan Malaysia Lorry Drivers Association president Er Sui See, however, was unhappy with the ban, calling it unfair and a major hassle.

“Why must they ban us? We also pay toll,” he said.

“It is ridiculous to expect us to apply for temporary permits each time we need to use the highway during the ban time.”