147km Kuantan-Segamat highway upgrade under study

ROMPIN
The Star 21-06-2010

ROMPIN: The Works Ministry will carry out a study on upgrading the Kuantan-Segamat highway to a dual carriageway following fatal accidents involving two families that occurred there within two weeks.

Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said the study on the 147km-long highway, also known as Tun Razak Highway, would be conducted as soon as possible.
“I will raise this matter up to the Economic Planning Unit and ask for the project to be included in the 10th Malaysia Plan,” he told reporters after opening the Rompin Umno division delegates meeting here yesterday.

Also present were Rompin Umno division chief and Rompin MP Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis, Deputy Human Resource Minister and Muadzam Shah assemblyman Datuk Maznah Mazlan and Tioman assemblyman Datuk Johari Hussein.

Shaziman said this in response to Thursday’s accident in which five family members were killed and three seriously injured at the 87th kilometre at about at 7.45am.
On June 7, a woman, her four children and her brother were killed in an accident on the highway. Both accidents occured about 10km from each other.

Shaziman said his ministry was looking into the possibility of building a new route from Rompin and Pekan in Pahang to Bahau in Negri Sembilan during the 10MP.
“This new Kuantan-Bahau-Serting route would enable motorists to bypass the East Coast Highway,” he added.

On the progress of the second phase of the East Coast Highway, Shaziman said there was a slight delay because of the contractor’s poor handling of the project.

Shaziman said the RM3bil 190km highway from the border of Pahang to Kampung Gemuruh in Terengganu had been scheduled to be completed by next year but was only expected to be completed in 2012 now.