Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof yesterday revealed that the federal government has allocated RM1.08 billion for the maintenance of federal roads throughout the country this year. He further stressed that the maintenance work is important to ensure that these roads are in good condition.
As reported by national news agency Bernama, Fadillah said that out of the RM1.08 billion amount, RM150 million was for the maintenance works in the southern zone of Peninsular Malaysia, namely federal roads in Pahang (RM66.8 million), Johor (RM60.9 million) and Negeri Sembilan (RM23.63 million). Speaking to reporters in conjunction with the FTRoadpedia South 2.0 Tour in Kluang yesterday, the Works Minister also said that proposals for road upgrading works on Federal Road FT050 from Ayer Hitam to Kluang in Section 33.8 until the Kluang Stadium junction in Section 49.1 would be submitted to the federal authorities in 2023.
The Phase 3B project has an estimated value of RM385.13 million under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) and is meant to reduce fatal accidents throughout the alignment. The project is a continuation of the Phase 3A project worth RM219 million which is under construction and expected to be completed in October 2024.
Fadillah commented,
“This location has recorded the highest rate of accidents in Malaysia due to the absence of road shoulders, medians and U-turns, with 52 accidents reported from 2020 to June 2022. This road is the main toll-free route connecting Batu Pahat, Kluang and Mersing districts and it will involve construction works for road shoulders, medians, U-turns and related works,”
Meanwhile, the Works Minister also said that an additional allocation of RM600,000 had been approved to upgrade street lights along Federal Road FT050. The allocation is for improving various aspects of road travel, especially safety of road users.
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