By Aida Aziz
IPOH: The 27 traffic-light intersections along the Ipoh-Lumut highway between the Jelapang interchange and Changkat Chermin Toll Plaza are among the concerns raised by motorists, with calls for the route to be upgraded to cope with growing traffic.
A road user, identified as Azhar, said it was time for the highway to be upgraded in line with rapid development and increasing traffic congestion along the route.
He said the Ipoh-Lumut highway was an important route connecting Ipoh with key areas in central and western Perak, including Batu Gajah, Seri Iskandar, Manjung and Lumut.
“The route also supports the movement of residents and goods, as well as economic and industrial activities along the corridor.
“However, rapid development and economic activity have increased traffic demand on the existing route.
“One of the main issues is the high number of traffic-light intersections. Between the Jelapang interchange and Changkat Chermin Toll Plaza, there are 27 traffic-light intersections.
“This can affect traffic flow, particularly during peak hours, and contribute to longer travelling times, which can reach almost two hours between Ipoh and Lumut,” he told Ipoh Echo and Peraktastic.
Azhar suggested that the number of traffic lights could be reduced in the near future, similar to Jalan Tambun, where some intersections have been replaced with U-turns.
He also pointed out that some sections, particularly between Jelapang and Siputeh, still operate as two-lane, two-way roads.
“This capacity constraint could become more significant as traffic volumes continue to increase in the future,” he said.
He added that the importance of the route was further strengthened by its links to major highways such as the North-South Expressway (NSE) and West Coast Expressway (WCE), as well as its potential connection to the West Ipoh Span Expressway (WISE) in the future.
“At the same time, the development of economic and industrial areas such as Silver Valley Technology Park in Kanthan, Lumut Maritime Industrial City and the Perak Halal Industrial Park in Lekir is expected to increase the number of vehicles using the highway.
“The Ipoh-Lumut highway should be viewed as a strategic corridor connecting urban areas, economic growth centres, industrial zones and major highway networks in Perak.
“Improving the capacity and traffic flow of this route is important to meet growing traffic demand and support the state’s long-term economic development,” he said.
Azhar said the state government should bring the proposed highway upgrade to the Federal Government for consideration.
He also highlighted the uneven road surface in the Tronoh and Siputeh areas, as well as poor lighting along the stretch between Siputeh and Jelapang.
“I frequently use the Ipoh-Lumut highway and have found that several aspects need to be upgraded for the convenience and safety of road users.
“This issue needs to be given attention by the state government for the benefit of everyone,” he added.
