WISE Can Reduce Congestion At Menora Tunnel, PLUS Expressway And Boost Tourism In Perak

By Nur Afiradina Arshad

IPOH, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- The construction of the West Ipoh Span Expressway (WISE) is seen as an opportunity for local residents to generate economy as well as help reduce traffic congestion along the North-South Expressway (PLUS), especially during festive seasons.

Noradidah Mokhtar, 60, a homestay operator in Gopeng said the WISE alignment would provide a more comfortable travel alternative for road users from the north who want to go on holiday in and around Perak as the route connects attractive transit locations in the state such as Kellie's Castle and the TT5 Tin Dredge.

"The tourist destination in Gopeng takes seven kilometres from the WISE location, this will have a positive impact on the tourism industry in Perak, only need a lot of tourism signage to make it easier for them to get to the respective location.

"In addition, the goal of the highway is to reduce traffic congestion along the Menora Tunnel route which often occurs, especially during peak hours," she said.

The construction of the West Ipoh Span Expressway (WISE) project at a cost of RM6.2 billion is expected to reduce traffic congestion along the PLUS Highway for the Gopeng to Kuala Kangsar route in Perak by up to 40 per cent and is expected to be completed in 2028.

The construction of the 60.88-kilometre privatised highway involves six intersections, two in Kuala Kangsar, one in Jerlun, one in Siputeh and two in Gopeng.

Meanwhile, a tourist van driver, Azizee Ishak, 37, said the highway is expected to facilitate and speed up travel of tourists, especially during the school holidays and festivals to reach their destinations.

"It's like I'm taking tourists from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, so everyone already knows that the northbound area will go through the Menora Tunnel, many trucks are also using that route and it will be congested. With the new route, it is hoped that it will speed up the journey," said Azizee who has been stranded for two hours when using the route.

Meanwhile, private sector worker Sazairizan Mohd Zain, 38, who has been using the PLUS Highway since 2016, is grateful for the availability of an alternative route such as the WISE alignment as it makes it easier for her to commute from Gopeng to Taiping.

"I was once trapped for six hours because of a trailer accident near the Menora Tunnel that resulted in the death of five Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS) students and the incident happened when I was about to go to work and I was late for work.

"It can be said that every day there will be damaged trucks near the area and things like this for me make it difficult to travel and pose a danger to road users. If there are other alternatives such as WISE, it can make it easier for us," she said.

Kerepek (Chips) business entrepreneur Muhamad Hijan Jamaluddin, 26, said traffic jams often occurred when passing through the Menora Tunnel because the road structure in the area is hilly and the movement of vehicles is rather slow.

"If I want to deliver ‘kerepek’ in the north, I usually use the PLUS route because it is quick and easy, but the truck I drive usually moves slowly when 'climbing' the Menora Tunnel area.

"This situation results in other lighter vehicles that follow me to move slowly and causes traffic jams. If my truck which is only three tonnes is slow, imagine how other dozens of large container-sized trucks will be affected. It will certainly cause an impact to the traffic flow," he said when met by Bernama.

Muhamad Hijan said that congestion is not only caused by the movement of container trucks or heavy vehicles, but congestion is also regularly caused by accidents or maintenance of the PLUS Highway. 

-- BERNAMA