Johor’s Pasir Gudang Highway upgrade with LED lights and road widening improves safety and comfort for daily commuters.
JOHOR BAHRU: Road users have welcomed the upgrading of the Pasir Gudang Highway (FT17), saying the state government project has improved safety and comfort along the route, particularly through the installation of LED street lights and road widening works.
A Bernama survey found that infrastructure improvements along the main route linking the industrial hub of Pasir Gudang have also boosted the confidence of motorists, who had previously faced poor lighting and uneven road surfaces.
Private sector employee Nur Izzati Mohd Nor, 28, said the installation of LED street lights had significantly improved visibility, especially when driving at night.
“When the surroundings are well lit and the road is wider, we no longer have to worry about potholes or foreign objects because everything is clearly visible. Driving late at night now feels much calmer and safer,” she said when met by Bernama recently.
The daily commuter said the condition of the highway was now much better than before.
Retiree S. Rathakrishnan, 62, said the Pasir Gudang Highway is now much safer than before, especially for motorcyclists.
“Previously, travelling along this highway was dangerous. The poor lighting and potholes posed a safety risk, especially when it rained. But now the infrastructure has improved tremendously.
“The state government’s efforts to maintain the street lights, resurface the road and widen the highway are meaningful for the people who depend on this route every day,” he said.
Another road user, Tan Wei Lun, 38, said the upgrading works had benefited motorists and enhanced the image of the Pasir Gudang Highway.
“The steady progress we see is proof that state resources are being returned to the rakyat. The fact that the Pasir Gudang Highway has shed its reputation as the second-worst road in Malaysia is a significant achievement that speaks for itself,” he said.
The media previously reported that the Pasir Gudang Highway, which was once ranked as the second-worst road in Malaysia, is no longer among the country’s 10 worst roads following continuous upgrading works.
Trailer lorry driver Mohd Khalid Ab Rozaid, 45, however, suggested that road surface maintenance and tree pruning along the route be carried out regularly to ensure the safety of road users.
According to the project’s progress report, works to upgrade the Pasir Gudang Highway from four to six lanes have reached 83 per cent completion.
On May 14, Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said a 6.4-kilometre stretch from the Bandar Seri Alam/Taman Rinting Interchange to Pasir Gudang had been opened to motorists, while the remaining 3.6-kilometre main carriageway is scheduled to open by August.
The project also includes the installation of 1,308 smart LED street lights by the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) along a 23.5-kilometre stretch from the Perling Interchange to Bandar Seri Alam/Taman Rinting.
Another 386 units are being installed by the Public Works Department (JKR) along the stretch from Bandar Seri Alam/Taman Rinting to Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad (MMHE) with finishing works and other infrastructure adjustments are scheduled for completion by November 2026.
The integrated modernisation initiative not only minimises the risk of accidents, but also reflects the Johor state government’s commitment to prioritising the well-being of the people in line with the Maju Johor 2030 development agenda.
