Pekan road upgrade to spur economy

PEKAN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday officiated at an event to launch the upgrading of a 14.7km trunk road between Pekan and Kampung Sungai Miang, which is set to spur local economic growth.

The existing two-lane road that links Pahang with Johor would be upgraded to a dual-carriageway at a cost of RM338 million, which was expected to be completed by February 2022.

Under the project, three bridges at Sungai Habib Hasan, Sungai Miang and Sungai Air Tawar would be replaced, and three new flyovers would be constructed.

The streetlights and two traffic light junctions in Kampung Tanjung Agas and Industri Tanjung Agas would also be upgraded.

Teras Sari Resources Sdn Bhd had been appointed to undertake the project, which would ease congestion and solve the problem of narrow stretches and dangerous corners.

The proposed dual-carriageway was part of the 240km Highway Network Development Plan from here to Kota Tinggi, Johor,

Upon completion of the project, farming, fisheries, tourism and industrial activities along the stretch were expected to flourish.

Najib described the project as the catalyst to transform the royal town here and pave the way for additional projects in the future.

“Although it does not extend to Nenasi or Endau in Mersing, this can be regarded as a starting point in constructing a road from Pekan to the south (Johor), which will be upgraded and extended over time,” he said.

Present was Works Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Zohari Akob.