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SUBANG JAYA: The authorities and traffic related agencies will execute the biggest joint undertaking to facilitate the balik kampung rush starting the next 24 hours.

Following the announcement that more than 10,000 police officers would be on duty and 3,500 Road Transport Department officials stationed along major highways, PLUS Expressway Berhad rolled out its comprehensive strategy yesterday.

Anticipating 1.4 millioncars on its expressways daily during the Raya rush, PLUS managing director Datuk Noorizah Abd Hamid said 1,000 additional toll counters would be opened to cater for the increased traffic on the days leading up to Hari Raya. Three thousand staff will be deployed to man the counters.

She told a press conference here yesterday that all reload lanes at all toll plazas would be closed to avoid traffic build-ups.

"There will be 'Reload 'n Go' counters at 70 petrol stations along the highway for those who wish to reload their toll cards," she said, adding that they would open from 9am to 9pm until Sept 11.

During peak traffic days, from Aug 27-28 and Sept 3-4, the counters will be open at selected rest stops for users to reload their PLUSMiles or Touch 'nGo cards.

Noorizah hoped motorists would follow PLUS' travel time advisory (TTA).

"The advisory is a system that has been tried and tested. If there are more people who comply with it, we are positive the traffic along the expressway will be smooth," she said.

She said since 2007, when the TTA was first introduced, the traffic flow had been manageable when 55 per cent of road users observed the system. This time around, PLUS is banking on 65 per cent adherence.

Noorizah said to stagger the traffic volume throughout the holiday season, motorists were encouraged to travel during non-peak days.

Those who pay via electronic methods, such as Touch 'nGo cards, can enjoy up to 20 per cent rebates.

Motorists travelling along PLUS expressway on Aug 25, 26 and Sept 1 will get a 20 per cent rebate, while those travelling on Aug 30 and 31 will get a 10 per cent rebate.

A total of 159 PLUSRonda teams will patrol the expressway daily and 21 tow trucks stationed along the expressway.

Some 500 Rela officers and 400 personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department, National Civil Department, St John Ambulance and the Malaysian Red Crescent Society will be stationed at 12 strategic locations.

Contra traffic flow will be activated at the Nilai-Seremban, Juru-Bukit Tambun and Bidor-Slim River stretches of the expressway to facilitate smoother traffic flow.

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PETALING JAYA: PLUS Expressways has recommended that travel times during the Hari Raya rush be staggered based on the last digit of the number plate in a bid to manage traffic flow.

It has suggested that plates ending with an odd number begin their journey at hours such as 9am or 11am, while those which end with an even number should start at hours like 8am or 10am.

The recommendation was mainly for the return to the Klang Valley after the Raya break as traffic was expected to be heavy throughout Sept 3 and 4, PLUS Expressways managing director Datuk Noorizah Abd Hamid said.

“All vehicles heading to the Klang Valley between Sept 1 and 4 are advised to leave before noon to avoid the jam,” she told a press conference yesterday.

Noorizah said the recommendation was aimed at distributing traffic and reducing congestion during the peak period, which is expected to see a 30% increase to 1.4 million vehicles daily.

As the balik kampung rush begins this weekend, Noorizah said its Times Travel Advisory (TTA) had outlined suggested travel times according to destinations.

Nine main destinations have been identified with each route allocated a recommended travel time from the Klang Valley.

For example, those heading to Kedah, Perlis or Penang through Juru are advised to leave before noon while those heading to Senawang, Port Dickson and Seremban should leave after 6pm.

Malaysian Highway Authority director-general Datuk Ismail Md Salleh welcomed the “registration number” advisory but said PLUS would have to educate the people on the initiative.

“Users may not really understand how the system works and how it can benefit them,” he said yesterday.

Noorizah also said there would be additional counters at toll plazas, more parking spots and even portable toilets placed at selected locations on the highway.

She said 3,000 staff members would be deployed at toll plazas during the festive period, a 23% increase from normal days while 259 PlusRonda teams would monitor highways round-the-clock.

All construction works along the highways would be temporarily stopped between Aug 25 and Sept 6, she added.

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http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?fi ... sec=nation

PETALING JAYA: It is balik kampung time for the week-long holidays. Here are some traffic updates from PLUSTrafik (Plusline 1-800-88-0000) of the situation at the highways in the country.

1.30pm: Accident at Km27 northbound (between Senai Utara and Kulai) - left lane closed, traffic slow.

Status of accident at Km39.1 northbound (Kulai to Sedenak) - vehicle being moved away, traffic slow

12.45pm: Km310 to Km303 heading north near Gua Tempurung - slow;

Accident at Km420.2 heading north from Bkt Beruntung to Bkt Tagar - slow traffic

Accident at Km39.1 (northbound) between Kulai and Sedenak) - slow traffic

12.30pm: Slim River to Sungkai after the Menora Tunnel and at Juru Toll Plaza heading north - slow moving;

Gombak toll plaza - traffic smooth and under control at both directions;

Penang Bridge - smooth flowing both directions;

Between Nilai and Seremban - smooth flowing both directions.

12pm: Accident at Km420 heading north (Bkt Beruntung to Bkt Tagar) of NSE;

Heavy traffic between Sedenak and Simpang Renggam;

11am: Sungei Besi toll heading south - smooth flowing;

Sedenak to Simpang Renggam - slow moving;

KM259 of NSE northbound - slow moving;

Second Link and Causeway in Johor - slow moving.

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http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?fi ... sec=nation

PETALING JAYA: The Hari Raya exodus continues with heavy traffic on the North-South Expressway in the north-bound direction.

A PLUS Expressways Berhad spokesman said traffic was moving slowly from Bukit Beruntung towards Tanjung Malim.

“There is also slow traffic from Slim River to Bidor where the highway narrows from three to two lanes,” he said.

At 7pm, traffic was slow north-bound from the tunnel after the Ipoh Utara toll all the way to the Sungai Perak rest and service area due to heavy rain.

“Traffic also slowed down at KM231 north-bound between Kuala Kangsar and Changkat Jering due to an accident,” the spokesman said.

Traffic along Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway was reportedly smooth. However, it was slow moving at the Gombak toll plaza to Genting Sempah area, according to PLUS Trafik twitter account.

There was also heavy traffic before Jabor toll plaza following a disruption in one of the SmartTAG lanes.

At Bukit Kayu Hitam toll plaza, PLUS stated that traffic was slow moving until Thailand. South-bound traffic, however, was generally smooth from the Sungai Besi toll plaza to Johor, said the PLUS spokesman.

He said traffic was slightly slow at Km271.6 south-bound from Nilai to Seremban.

Police said there were 17 deaths recorded on Saturday, which is the fifth day of Ops Sikap 24.

Motorcyclists recorded the highest death with 11 cases, said Bukit Aman on its website.

In PENANG, a Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd spokesman said traffic had been smooth throughout the day from both directions.

Those wishing to seek information on traffic flow on the bridge can send a text message by typing “OTIM topen” or “OTIM toprai” and sending to 012-4345366 (for Maxis users), 019-5733666 (Celcom) or 016-4168666 (DiGi).

They can also call PBSB's toll-free Bridgeline at 1300-1300-03.

In KEDAH, state Road Transport Department director Ahmad Musadad Sulaiman said the number of vehicles arriving here had reached more than 100,000 since Saturday.

“Traffic is slow moving at all toll plazas to major towns like Kulim, Sungai Petani and Alor Setar.”

In JOHOR, traffic was smooth due to the number of people who had already left for their hometown.

Traffic at usually congested roads such as Tebrau Highway and Jalan Skudai in Johor Baru was smooth.

There was also no congestion at the Skudai toll plaza.

Read the full article:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?fi ... sec=nation