NEW ROAD CUTS TRAVEL TIME TO 10 MINUTES

A NEW 10.8km road that connects Kampung Sengkang in Bukit Gambir and Kampung Teratai in Gersik, will benefit thousands of residents by reducing travel time between the two areas.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman opening Jalan Sengkang-Teratai recently.

Construction of the new road in north Johor began on Sept 4 last year, and it was opened on Jan 22. Most parts of the road was previously dirt road until the state government stepped in to upgrade it.

Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman recently officiated the new road, which is named Jalan Sengkang-Teratai.

The new road enables motorists from Kampung Sengkang to reach Kampung Teratai in 10 minutes, as compared with one hour previously. The new road is also a short cut for Bukit Gambir residents to travel to Segamat, Labis Kebun Bahru, Bukit Serampang or Bukit Kepong.

Previously, Bukit Gambir folk had to go out of their way by using the Bukit Gambir-Kundang Ulu trunk road or through Sagil town to get to Segamat.

Azaman Ahmad, 46, from Kampung Melepang Baru said he had to use an "uncomfortable" route for 30 minutes every day to send his children to school at SK Sengkang.

"Thanks to the new road, my journey now takes me 15 minutes," said Azaman.

Another resident, Zakaria Mahat, 38, thanked the government for upgrading the former dirt road, because it provided a proper road network for several villages in the area.

"I am thankful because the new road will greatly benefit the thousands of residents here. The people will get to enjoy development projects that are intended to help us."

Ghani, in his speech, said the newly built road cost RM15 million and was constructed using funding from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

SOURCE: NST JOHOR STREETS, MARCH 17, 2010