Pintas Utama completes slope restoration with Sabo Dam systems on FT185, making the Lojing-Gua Musang route safer and more resilient.
GUA MUSANG: A slope restoration project incorporating Sabo Dam systems and debris barriers at Section 61.00 of the Lojing–Gua Musang Road (FT185) has significantly enhanced the safety and resilience of the strategic route, which was cut off by landslides and debris flows following heavy rainfall in 2021.
The road was severely damaged when a hillside collapse buried both carriageways along a 1.5-kilometre stretch, forcing its complete closure to traffic.
Technical assessments found that the valley terrain between two slopes, coupled with sparse vegetation cover, increased the risk of debris flows during periods of heavy rainfall, threatening slope stability and the integrity of the road.
To mitigate the risk, contractor Pintas Utama implemented a comprehensive engineering solution comprising Sabo Dams and debris barriers, forming a multi-layered protection system designed to control debris flows and safeguard the roadway.
Pintas Utama chief executive officer Datuk Marhalim Mohamed said the Sabo Dam system helps regulate the movement of debris and dissipate flow energy from upstream areas, while the debris barriers trap rocks, logs and other materials before they reach the road.
He noted that FT185 is a key transportation corridor linking Gua Musang and Lojing with Cameron Highlands and Simpang Pulai in Perak, supporting the movement of people, agricultural produce, commercial activities and tourism across Kelantan, Pahang and Perak.
“This approach is aimed not only at restoring the affected area but also at strengthening long-term protection for the road infrastructure. It helps ensure uninterrupted socioeconomic activities by reducing the risk of prolonged road closures, which would otherwise increase travel time and transportation costs,” he said in a statement today.
Earlier, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi visited the completed site before witnessing the handover of the project from Pintas Utama to the Public Works Department’s (JKR) Slope Engineering Branch, and subsequently to the Works Ministry (KKR).
Also present were Public Works Director-General Datuk Ibrahim Esa, senior ministry officials and JKR technical officers.
Marhalim said the successful completion of the project demonstrates that appropriate engineering solutions not only mitigate slope hazards but also play a critical role in protecting road users and enhancing the resilience of the nation’s infrastructure.
He added that, in line with the government’s commitment, particularly that of KKR, Pintas Utama will continue supporting efforts to strengthen the safety and resilience of national infrastructure through comprehensive slope engineering solutions, with public safety remaining the top priority.
