KUALA LUMPUR: THE West Coast Expressway (WCE) is set to resolve the nightmare congestion faced by motorists almost every school and public holiday when travelling to the northern states of the peninsula and back.
WCE, which is being built on the west coast of the peninsula, will be 233km long. It is jointly developed by the Public Works Department and toll concessionaire WCE Holdings Bhd’s West Coast Expressway Sdn Bhd (WCESB).
Once completed next month, WCE will connect many coastal towns, including Klang, Kuala Selangor, Teluk Intan, Setiawan, Manjung and Hutan Melintang.
Universiti Sains Malaysia senior lecturer in transportation engineering Dr Nur Sabahiah Abdul Sukor said the expressway would be a boon to the region.
“WCE will be an economic catalyst for small towns in Perak, like Bagan Datuk, Teluk Intan and Hutan Melintang.
“With more traffic flowing through these towns, there will be many opportunities for small businesses to grow. It will be good for the people,” she said.
As it is, job interviews at the Teluk Intan Municipal Council rest house, Inderawati Beruas Hall and Manjung Municipal Council Hall have attracted huge crowds.
The vacancies were for customer service officers, supervisors, executives, technicians and others. The number of jobs is expected to increase when the expressway is completed.
“Priority for jobs will be given to locals. Chosen candidates will be offered a retirement package, allowance, overtime work, medical benefits and insurance,” said state Human Capital Development, Sports and Youth Committee chairman Howard Lee Chuan How.
WCE is also expected to boost tourism in Perak as many hidden places will become more accessible to travellers.
Nur Sabahiah said Perak had many attractions, from historical spots, nature hideaways to British-era buildings.
“People will usually pass them by. WCE will increase the number of tourists and give local visitors easier access to these spots.”
She said small- and medium-sized industries in Perak were expected to grow with the improved connectivity.
Professor Dr Amiruddin Ismail, head of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Smart and Sustainable Township Research Centre, Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, said WCE would ease traffic congestion.
“We are aware that during the peak holiday period, like Hari Raya and the school holidays, the North-South Expressway is often congested.
“With WCE, road users will have an alternative to travel north.
“When there is an alternative, road users can plan their journey better. Goodbye to jams during the holidays.”
He said research had been carried out on expected WCE usage and the economic windfall that could change sleepy towns along the expressway.
“Look at what happened with PLUS highways. Many new areas were opened up along the highways, offering opportunities for small- and medium-sized businesses to grow.”
WCE is expected to link to the North-South Expressway, South Klang Valley Expressway, North Klang Valley Expressway and Shah Alam Expressway to ensure full access for road users travelling north.
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