Nanta (right) with ministry and highway officials inspecting the progress of the NSE widening project on Jan 16. – BERNAMApic
KULAI: Construction work for the additional lane of the North-South Expressway (NSE) at the Sedenak-Kulai stretch in Johor will be suspended for 12 days from Jan 23 to Feb 3.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said this is to ensure smooth traffic flow and reduce congestion in conjunction with the Chinese New Year festive season at the end of this month and the school holidays starting this Saturday (Jan 18).
"I was told earlier that during the festive season, the two normal lanes will not be disturbed.
"So with the upcoming Chinese New Year, an order has been given to stop work from Jan 23 to Feb 3 so as not to disturb traffic," he told reporters after visiting the NSE Additional Lane Construction Project Phase 1 @ Sedenak Elevated Interchange, Kulai here on Thursday (Jan 16).
Also present were Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) chairman Datuk Seri Hasni Mohamad, ministry deputy secretary-general (Policy and Development) Datuk Mond Sakeri Abdul Kadir, LLM director-general Datuk Sazali Harun and PLUS Malaysia Berhad managing director Datuk Nik Airina Nik Jaffar.
In a related development, Nanta said the progress of the additional lane construction project on the Kulai-Sedenak stretch reached 5.02% as of Dec 31.
He said the works which began in July was progressing smoothly and according to schedule.
The works currently underway at the location includes earthworks, slope cutting and filling, drainage structures, utility relocation and traffic management plans.
"After the earthworks on the Sedenak-Kulai route in the South direction are completed, the construction of additional lanes at the location will begin in stages.
"The construction of this additional lane is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2027 and the total cost of Phase 1 is RM515mil," he said. – Bernama
