MORE than two million vehicles are forecast to hit the highways under Plus Malaysia Bhd during the upcoming Hari Raya holidays, with significant increases in traffic expected on both the North-South Expressway and the East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2).
Plus Malaysia Chief Operating Officer Datuk Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi announced that approximately 2.2 million vehicles are anticipated to travel on the main Plus highways, while an additional 70,000 vehicles are expected to use LPT2.
He noted that traffic will be particularly heavy on peak travel days, both before and after the holidays. "We expect congestion to peak before the holidays, from March 27 to 29, and after the holidays, from April 4 to 6," Zakaria stated. "This represents a 20 per cent increase in traffic compared to normal days."
Suspension of Major Road Works and Restrictions on Heavy Vehicles
Zakaria assured the public that all major roadworks will be suspended from March 27 to April 7, with only emergency works allowed during this period. He also revealed that special restrictions would be placed on heavy vehicles to manage the flow of traffic during the festive season.
"Heavy vehicles will be banned from the highways on March 29 and 30, as well as on April 5 and 6, as part of the Transport Ministry’s traffic management plan," he explained.
Enhanced Traffic Management with Smart Lanes
In an effort to improve traffic flow during the peak periods, Plus Malaysia will activate 28 smart lanes at critical, high-traffic locations. Zakaria highlighted that three additional smart lanes have been added since the Chinese New Year holiday, following positive feedback from road users.
"During Chinese New Year, many road users reported that the smart lanes helped significantly improve traffic flow by increasing road capacity, reducing congestion, and enhancing travel time," he noted.
"We are hopeful that these measures will once again help ease the travel experience during Hari Raya."
The smart lanes are designed to provide an alternative route for vehicles, with a recommended speed limit of approximately 60 km/h. Zakaria also emphasised that drivers must adhere to traffic regulations, stating,
"Highway users are strictly prohibited from using the emergency lane at locations where the smart lanes are not activated, as this could result in legal action."
With these preparations in place, Plus Malaysia aims to ensure smoother journeys for millions of holiday makers on Malaysia’s highways during the busy Hari Raya period. – March 19, 2025
