Works Ministry, LLM takes proactive steps to ease traffic congestion during Hari Raya

KUALA LUMPUR: The Works Ministry has, through the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), taken proactive measures to minimise congestion on highways and smoothen traffic flow in preparation for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.

Its Minister, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, said the government is very concerned about the traffic congestion during festive seasons, particularly on the North-South Expressway (PLUS).

He said some of the steps to ease traffic jams on the highways included stopping maintenance works, activating the Smart Lanes, and providing the MyPLUS-TTA (travel time advisory) application.

"Maintenance works involving the closure of lanes will be temporarily halted during the festive holiday period from April 1-17. Only emergency work will be permitted,” he said when winding up the motion of thanks for the Royal address at the Dewan Negara sitting on Tuesday (March 26).

Nanta said upgrading works, like the installation of new signboards, will be completed no later than April 7.

He said that road marking works to add lanes at specific locations on the PLUS highways have also been carried out to increase existing capacity.

"We will also open many toll transaction lanes, including implementing layered toll collection at toll plazas, besides ensuring that patrol teams and cranes or tow trucks are on standby at accident-prone spots," he said.

He said the ministry would share traffic information with highway users through electronic signboards and collaboration with major radio and television channels.

"To address the congestion at the Gombak Toll Plaza on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway, the toll collection lanes will be rearranged to facilitate payment processes during the Aidilfitri holidays," he said. – Bernama