New highways to spur growth in Johor
Wednesday, October 14, 1998, New Strait Times
By Ravi Nambiar
SEGAMAT, Tues. - Johor will develop a comprehensive network of new roads and expressways
to open up remote areas and spur economic development throughout the State.
Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said today that Johor was going big on road
infrastructure to improve accessibility and increase economic activity statewide.
He said this was imperative because certain parts of Johor lagged behind in development.
Johor's east coast, for instance, is still relatively under- developed because of the lack
of road access.
Ghani said the new road projects included the proposed Segamat -Tangkak -Muar expressway,
the Gemas-Segamat-Kluang-Pasir Gudang-Johor Baru expressway and the Senai-Kong Kong-Pasir
Gudang expressway.
"These are part of a comprehensive network of roads we are planning to provide
efficient road links to all parts of Johor.
"They will include both Federal-funded road projects and privatised expressways
mooted by the State Government."
Ghani was speaking at a ceremonmy to mark the start of construction of a second bridge
across Sungai Segamat here today. Also present were Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy
Vellu and Member of Parliament for Segamat Datuk S. Subramaniam.
The RM5.6 million bridge, spanning 78-metres across the river, is located just 300-metres
from the existing Segamat bridge. The project is scheduled for completion in March 2000.
It will provide a much needed alternative route as the existing bridge is choking with
traffic. All indications are that traffic volume would increase even further when the
Segamat inland port becomes operational later this year.
Ghani said the Federal Government had agreed in principal to Johor's plans to develop new
expressways, adding that these would be privatised as they were commercially viable.
He said the plan was not only to have first-class roads on Johor's west coast, but also in
east coast districts like Kota Tinggi and Desaru and in central Johor covering the
districts of Kluang and Segamat.
The proposed Segamat-Tangkak-Muar expressway, he noted, would spur development in central
Johor, which was fast emerging as a new growth centre.
Ghani said the Gemas-Segamat-Kluang expressway was another strategic move to open up
under-developed areas.
"We are also negotiating with interested parties to start work on the Senai-Kong
Kong-Pasir Gudang expressway. This would also involve the building of a new bridge across
Sungai Johor to provide direct access to Desaru," he said.
Meanwhile, Samy Vellu said his ministry would study a Johor Government request that road
shoulders in small towns be sealed with tar or concrete to prevent them from becoming
soggy and messy during the wet season.
He said he had directed the Public Works Department to submit a report on the proposal. |
