Simpang Pulai Toll Plaza Capable of Handling Traffic Surges, Minister Assures

The Simpang Pulai Toll Plaza is currently operating efficiently and is capable of managing the anticipated surge in traffic during weekends and major festive periods. Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, the Minister of Works, confirmed that the plaza's capacity is not being exceeded, with traffic flow analysis consistently showing it remains at Service Level A.

Nanta Linggi detailed the plaza's lane configurations, noting that the entry plaza has two multi-class lanes for Touch 'n Go and one hybrid lane for RFID and Touch 'n Go. The exit plaza features two multi-class Touch 'n Go lanes, plus dedicated lanes for Touch 'n Go, RFID, and SmartTAG. To further assist during peak times and holidays, concessionaires provide personnel to help users with mobile toll payments.

“

The traffic capacity analysis shows that the toll plaza remains at Service Level A.

Responding to a question about potential reviews of the plaza's layout and size due to increased traffic, the Minister clarified that the congestion issues are not originating from the toll plaza itself. Instead, the primary cause is traffic overflow from the surrounding Federal Trunk Roads managed by the Public Works Department (JKR), which have reached their maximum capacity.

As a short-term solution, the Perak JKR Electrical Engineering Branch has installed a Smart Traffic Light system at key intersections experiencing high traffic density, including areas around the Simpang Pulai plaza. This intelligent system optimizes traffic light timings based on real-time conditions, aiming to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance road safety. The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and concessionaires will continue to monitor the plaza's operational performance, conducting further studies if necessary to identify appropriate improvement measures.

“

The congestion that occurs is actually caused by the overflow of traffic on the Federal roads under the supervision of the Public Works Department (JKR) outside the toll plaza area which has reached maximum capacity.