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| WCE Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Neoh Soon Hiong |
The WCE spans 233km from Banting, Selangor to Taiping, Perak.
It is linked to the North-South Expressway (NSE), North Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE) and Shah Alam Expressway.
Neoh said heavy vehicle operators would benefit from the WCE.
"The alignment of the WCE is primarily to develop a port-to-port route between Penang Port and Port Klang.
"WCE is on a flat terrain while the NSE goes through mountainous areas, where the vehicle operating and petrol costs will be higher," he said.
Perak Public Amenities, Infrastructure, Energy and Water Committee chairman Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin said The WCE spans 233km from Banting, Selangor to Taiping, Perak. WCE in Perak would cover 139.2km.
He said the project was being carried out simultaneously involving five packages — Package eight to 12 — involving the construction of 11 exits and elevated interchanges and three rest-and-relaxation (R&R) facilities.
He said the elevated interchanges would be built in Hutan Melintang, Teluk Intan, Kampung Lekir, South Sitiawan, North Sitiawan, Changkat Cermin, West Kinta, Beruas, A130, Trong and South Taiping.
“The project’s construction will provide jobs, especially for skilled and semi-skilled workers.
“Once it is completed, more jobs will be opened, including in the expressway maintenance sector and businesses at R&R areas,” Zainol told the New Straits Times Press (NSTP) here recently.
Zainol said WCE would bring development to the people and increase property values.
“It shortens travel time from Hilir Perak to Bagan Datuk. WCE is expected to spur tourism in the two areas.
“Though these areas are known to many, they are not easily accessible as there is no expressway that directly connects it to many locations,” Zainol added.
“For instance, in Teluk Intan, we have Menara Condong, a recognised tourism icon, while in Bagan Datuk, we have the Bagan Datuk Jetty, Batu Bertenggek, Beting Beras Basah and several places that will be made more known to the public due to WCE.
“The project will boost the local economy, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including the Che Nah coffee factory in Chenderong Balai.
“The craft industry will benefit from it, too.”
Zainol said the Selangor and Perak parts of the expressway projects were being built simultaneously.
“The physical progress for the package in Perak is 56.07 per cent completed, compared with 73.53 per cent should it follow the schedule.”
He said the delay was due to a technical issue and structural work.
Meanwhile, Bagan Datuk civil servant Badrul Amin Mohamad Marzuki, 20, said the expressway was a blessing for the people there.
“It will help road users who commute from Bagan Datuk to Kuala Lumpur by shortening the journey.
“Bagan Datuk will be blessed with a more vibrant economy.
“It used to be a cowboy town, but now it is getting more development and better known,” Badrul said.
Trader S. Appalasamy, 58, said WCE would not only benefit Hilir Perak and Bagan Datuk, but also other places, such as Seri Iskandar and Taiping.
Zainol said WCE would bring development to the people and increase property values.
“It shortens travel time from Hilir Perak to Bagan Datuk. WCE is expected to spur tourism in the two areas.
“Though these areas are known to many, they are not easily accessible as there is no expressway that directly connects it to many locations,” Zainol added.
“For instance, in Teluk Intan, we have Menara Condong, a recognised tourism icon, while in Bagan Datuk, we have the Bagan Datuk Jetty, Batu Bertenggek, Beting Beras Basah and several places that will be made more known to the public due to WCE.
“The project will boost the local economy, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including the Che Nah coffee factory in Chenderong Balai.
“The craft industry will benefit from it, too.”
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said that the state government has set up a committee to maximise the economic development along the WCE stretch in Perak.
Ahmad Faizal, who is also the chairman of the committee, said the focus would be more on former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s Bagan Datuk constituency.
“Our focus would be more on the WCE stretch in Bagan Datuk as the district is so backward.
“The land in Perak is still considered cheap compared to the neighbouring states. We can start up housing and industrial developments along the WCE stretch in Bagan Datuk and it would benefit the state and the people there,” he said.
