KL-Pahang highway to fully reopen today

BENTONG • The Kuala Lumpur-Pahang Karak Highway was partially reopened to traffic at 2pm yesterday, according to the Malaysian Works Ministry, and will fully reopen today.

Currently, two lanes of the highway on one side of the divider are operational, one each for traffic in both directions.

"The traffic contra flow will begin from KM52.4 and ends at KM50," said Works Minister Fadillah Yusof yesterday .

The highway was reopened two hours after the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah, visited the site yesterday, reported the state-run Bernama news agency.

"The highway will be fully operational on Nov 15, beginning 2pm. The delay is because the highway concessionaire is still refurbishing the road surface due to the landslide," he said, adding that the move was intended to ensure the safety of all motorists using the route.

He advised road users to follow instructions of ground personnel and signboards on the road and said there would be updates from time to time on the opening of roads, reported The New Straits Times.

On Wednesday night, a mudslide hit the Karak Highway and trapped at least four vehicles, causing a traffic standstill in both directions.

Heavy rains had brought down tonnes of water, mud and tree trunks onto part of the highway.

The area is not far from Bukit Tinggi, which is several kilometres from the exit road to Malaysia's most visited destination, the Genting Highlands, according to media reports.

The landslide was caused by the overflow of a water catchment area, according to the Fire and Rescue Department, discounting some reports that blamed logging on a nearby hill for the incident.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on November 15, 2015, with the headline KL-Pahang highway to fully reopen today. Subscribe