Kuala lumpur: The development of elevated highways and the adoption of smart technology are among the key approaches adopted by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to address worsening traffic congestion, particularly in urban areas. LLM Director-General Datuk Mohd Hadzmir Yusoff emphasized the urgency of these innovations due to the increasing number of vehicles and highway usage, which now reaches between 5.5 million and six million vehicles daily.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the MADANI Government is committed to expanding the toll highway network in Malaysia to meet the growing demand and alleviate urban congestion. Datuk Mohd Hadzmir Yusoff noted this commitment while appearing on Bernama TV's "Ruang Bicara" programme, discussing the needs and challenges of urban highway construction. He highlighted the significant daily traffic volume and the necessity for new infrastructure and technology to address these challenges.
The LLM is prioritizing the continuity of highway network development, ensuring projects adhere to technical and safety standards from planning through to operations. A particular focus is on the New Pantai Expressway 2 (NPE2) extension project, where current capacity is insufficient for the over 200,000 vehicles using the NPE daily. Plans include adding two elevated lanes to increase capacity and improve service levels.
Urban highway construction faces challenges such as land constraints, high acquisition costs, and underground utilities. To mitigate these, non-conventional design approaches and the Industrialised Building System (IBS) method are being employed. Additionally, CCTV cameras will be installed at construction sites to ensure safety and enable quick responses to incidents.
Mohd Hadzmir also mentioned the move towards developing smart highways using artificial intelligence to automatically detect accidents and traffic violations. Meanwhile, IJM Corporation Bhd Toll Division CEO Chua Lay Hoon highlighted the NPE2 extension's role in managing increasing traffic and supporting urban development. The RM1.7 billion project, implemented through a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, aims to alleviate congestion in southern Kuala Lumpur and reduce travel time significantly.
The project will feature smart highway technology, including an integrated traffic monitoring system, smart cameras, and facilities like rest areas and electric vehicle charging stations, without relying on government funds.