Stranded on the highway

At the mercy of the monsoon: Residents of Felda Sungai Retang are cut off by floods after continuous rains.

KUANTAN: Travellers using the East Coast Highway (LPT) Phase 1 were forced to turn around or postpone their journeys following the road closure at KM198.8, east and west bound, near Gambang and Sri Jaya.

Retiree Mohamed Radhi Samat, 64, said he was still looking for an alternative route back to Shah Alam, Selangor, after being informed of the road closure at the LPT Phase 1 (LPT1) yesterday morning and the old Kuantan-Kuala Lumpur road due to floods.

He was part of a group of 15 relatives who went to Terengganu for a wedding during the weekend.

“We did not expect to be stranded. At first I thought there was an accident that caused the jam, but when we checked social media, many shared photos of the floods at LPT1.

“If we are left without any other option, we have to turn around and hope for the best on Monday (today), ” he told Bernama.

Trader Hafizah Aina Halimi, 30, who wanted to go to Kuala Lumpur, said she had to postpone her journey after learning of the road closure.

Yesterday morning, LPT1 concession holder, ANIH Bhd, issued a statement advising road users from the East Coast returning to Kuala Lumpur to postpone their trips after a kilometre-long section of the highway was flooded in 2m high water.

In a later statement, ANIH Bhd said that the KM198 LPT1 Gambang-Sri Jaya stretch was reopened to all vehicles at 3.30pm yesterday with two east-bound lanes open, and only one lane west-bound to Kuala Lumpur open to vehicles for now.

Also, LPT Phase 2 (LPT2) road users are urged to plan their journeys due to the flooding in LPT1.

LPT 2 Sdn Bhd business manager Roszi Ibrahim said the LPT2, between Kuala Terengganu and Jabor, was fully operational.

Mohd Zaki Mustafa, 66, surveying the corrosion damage at a surau following a high tide phenomenon at Kampung Pengkalan Maras, Terengganu. —Bernama

“Due to the fact that the LPT2 is connected to LPT1, travellers who have entered LPT2 are urged to stop at our R&R areas.

“Various facilities are available at these areas and there is ample parking for people to rest before resuming their journeys after the flooding in LPT1 has receded, ” he said.

Commuters are advised to obtain the latest information on traffic conditions via the LPT2 Facebook page or contact LPT2Line at 1800-88-0220 or ECE helpline 1700-81-8700, @LPTTrafik, or the East Coast Expressway Facebook page.