Photo: Bernama
TANGKAK: The proposed extension of the Banting-Gelang Patah West Coast Expressway (WCE) will offer road users an alternative to the North-South Expressway (NSE) once completed, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said the WCE - which connects Banting in Selangor to Gelang Patah in Johor - would also spur development in areas such as Batu Pahat and Muar, which are located slightly away from NSE exits.
"The existing NSE is quite congested from Johor Baru to Kuala Lumpur, especially on weekends, so the WCE will be an alternative for road users.
"Once completed, the WCE will bring spillover effects to coastal areas and those far from the NSE," he said when asked about the highway project after breaking ground for a multi-purpose building at Pei Hwa Chinese Independent School on Saturday (Nov 2).
Loke added that the WCE project would be implemented through a Public-Private Partnership concept and would not incur any costs for the government.
During the tabling of Budget 2025 on Oct 18, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Banting-Gelang Patah WCE project would be prioritised next year through a PPP approach.
