2 upgrade projects and RM 5.2 million allocation for the maintenance of Pasir Gudang Highway (FT17) Johor for The Comfort and Safety of Users.

Johor Bahru, 8^th May 2023 – The Ministry of Works (MOW) is concerned about the safety and comfort of the road users on the Pasir Gudang Expressway (FT17) which has received attention recently. The Minister of MOW YB Dato Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi has personally inspected the progress of the upgrading and maintenance of the road.

There are two (2) upgrading projects on the route that have been approved under the implementation of the Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) in phases, namely the Johor Pasir Gudang Expressway (FT17) Upgrading Project from Four (4) Lanes to Six (6) Lanes, Phase 2B and Phase 3.

Phase 2B, which is from the Bandar Seri Alam/Taman Rinting Interchange to the Pasir Gudang Interchange, is in the construction stage, the design and build project is expected to be completed in October 2025. While for Phase 3, which is from the Perling Interchange to the Utara Expressway ramp the South has been approved under Rolling Plan 3, Rancangan Malaysia Ke-12 (RP3, RMKe-12) and is now at the planning stage to confirm the scope and the cost of the project.

In order to ensure that the implementation of this project considers the views and interests of all relevant parties, the verification of the scope and cost of the project will go through the Value Management process with the Ministry of Economy and involve various agencies and stakeholders including agencies at the state level and utility companies. The Value Management Lab at the Value Study stage for the Phase 3 project is expected to be implemented in August 2023.

The works to upgrade the FT17 route for both Phase 2B and Phase 3 will involve widening the road along 12.5 kilometers including repairing and upgrading existing flyover structures, bridges and overpasses. This project is also a continuation of the Phase 1 upgrading project which was completed in 2016 and Phase 2A which was completed in 2018.

The overall implementation of the FT17 upgrading project will help to disperse traffic, especially during peak hours, in addition to benefiting road users commuting to the industrial area, the administrative centre of Kota Iskandar as well as residents in housing estates along the route.

In addition, road maintenance works that include the scope of routine maintenance work as well as periodic repair of pavements and bridges are also carried out for the comfort and safety of road users. Government has approved an allocation of RM107.34 million for road maintenance works for the entire federal route in the State of Johor for the year 2023 and about RM5.24 million of this is specifically for maintenance works on the FT17 route.