M-cycle menace on Federal Highway
MOTORISTS are complaining about the worsening rush-hour traffic jam on the Federal Highway, in Kuala Lumpur, with more motorcycles using the main carriageway instead the designated lane.
A frequent highway user, who wished to be known as Nor, said motorcycles had been zipping past her car over the past month.
“The daily rush-hour traffic is already bad as it is, but with motorcycles swerving between lanes, I have had to apply the emergency brake one too many times to avoid a crash.
“The motorcyclists should stick to the designated lane, which is not jammed. I am sure it is much safer to use rather than riding between cars,” she said.
However, another motorist, who wanted to be identified as Latifah, said: “I understand that there are a lot of potholes on the motorcycle lane and for that, the authorities should buck up and repair the road.
“I’ve also witnessed a few accidents involving cars and motorcycles on the Federal Highway.”
Yet another motorist, who wants to be identified as Azmi, said he knew that the motorcycle lane on the highway was being upgraded but felt the Public Works Department (PWD) was taking too long to do it.
ACTIONLINE:
PWD acknowledged the problem on the Federal Highway.
PWD road facility maintenance branch director Zulakmal Sufian said the upgrading work, including widening the existing lanes, was expected to be completed by April at a cost of RM3.13million.
He said the allocation from the Works Ministry would be spent of the construction of two overhead bridges, widening the road, improving the drainage system, upgrading the entrance and exitways, installing better lighting in the tunnels and refining the traffic management plan.
“As the work is in progress, the motorcycle lanes have been closed,” he said.