IPOH: Round-the-clock CCTV monitoring is being proposed along the Menora Tunnel stretch to closely monitor the slope following a recent soil movement incident.
Perak infrastructure, energy, water and public transport committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the proposal was among several immediate measures being considered to strengthen safety monitoring along the stretch.
He said authorities are also planning to increase patrols and install suitable warning signs to alert motorists to potential hazards.
“If approved, we will have a monitoring centre at a suitable location to monitor CCTV footage along this entire stretch of the slope,” he told reporters during a visit near the tunnel here yesterday.
Also present were PLUS Malaysia Bhd operations senior general manager Mohd Yusuf Abdul Aziz and Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) northern region director Muhd Yusrizan Mohd Yusof.
A landslide occurred at KM263.6 of the North-South Expressway near the Menora Tunnel on Saturday following heavy rain. No casualties were reported.
Mohammad Nizar said monitoring by LLM and PLUS was already being carried out strategically and comprehensively, including the use of drones to survey the affected area and identify nearby water sources that could weaken the soil.
He said the affected area had also been cordoned off as an initial measure to prevent rainwater from seeping into the soil.
Mohammad Nizar assured motorists that the route remained safe.
“The incident was mainly attributed to heavy rainfall and soil movement, with about 65mm to 66mm of rain recorded, compared with the normal level of about 40mm.
“The heavy rain caused soil movement, which affected trees on the upper section of the slope and resulted in their falling.
“Plastic sheets were installed at the affected area to channel rainwater away and prevent it from seeping into the soil,” he said.
On long-term measures, Mohammad Nizar said reinforcement works, including stabilising large rocks and installing wire mesh in areas deemed at risk, would be considered.
He said the slope from Menora to Jelapang was extensive and its condition needed to be examined section by section.
The Public Works Department had advanced technology, including satellite monitoring, which was being used in areas such as Simpang Pulai to detect ground movement and large boulders, he said.
“What we are seeing here at the Menora Tunnel, compared with what we are facing from Simpang Pulai towards Blue Valley, is much smaller in scale.
“The data could be shared with PLUS and LLM to enable early detection and faster action should any movement of rocks or soil occur,” he said.
