ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Special Traffic Dispersal Committee has identified 77 congestion hotspots in the Greater Johor Bahru (JB) area, the Johor State Assembly was informed today. State Public Works, Transportation, Infrastructure and Communications Committee chairman, Mohamad Fazli Mohammad Salleh, announced that short-, medium-, and long-term solutions are being employed to tackle congestion issues in these designated areas.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, these measures are crucial to ensuring that the operation of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) station will not only yield economic, social, and technological benefits but also aid in resolving traffic congestion in Greater JB. For immediate relief, traffic management efforts are underway, including traffic police assistance, road openings and closures, and the installation of flexible posts to deter queue-cutting at intersections.
In response to Marina Ibrahim (DAP-Skudai), who inquired about the state government’s assurance to prevent traffic burdens aro
und Johor Bahru city and the Greater JB area due to the RTS project, Mohamad Fazli detailed ongoing road projects. These include road widening and upgrades with a total budget exceeding RM1.28 billion, expected to finalize between 2026 and 2027, coinciding with the RTS’s operational timeline.
Key projects include the construction of a new road in Gelang Patah from the Gelang Patah CIQ intersection to Tanjung Pelepas, costing RM62.5 million, expected to complete in 2026. Additionally, upgrades to the Pasir Gudang Highway and an elevated intersection project from EDL-Johor Bahru City Centre-Stulang Laut are underway, with costs of RM78 million and RM371.7 million respectively.
Further improvements involve the Senai-Desaru Expressway’s expansion to a four-lane highway, costing RM160 million, and a directional ramp construction at the SDE-Bandar Penawar intersection, costing RM86.6 million, both scheduled for completion by 2026.
For medium- and long-term strategies, Mohamad Fazli mentioned the development of p
ublic transport corridors and infrastructure projects, including new intersections and road expansions, aligned with the state’s growth projections. The RTS, set for completion in 2026 and operational by 2027, aims to alleviate congestion on the Johor Causeway, with an anticipated 20% shift from private vehicle use to the RTS. This development is expected to significantly benefit cross-border commuters between Johor Bahru and Singapore.