Ahmad Maslan: Senai–Desaru Expressway upgrading 55% complete, due April 2027

KOTA TINGGI (Feb 2): The upgrading project to widen the Senai-Desaru Expressway (SDE) to four lanes has achieved 55% completion and is expected to be ready by April 2027, said Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan. (pictured)

He said the RM160 million project involves a 30-month construction period, and no extension of time would be required as it is progressing smoothly.

“The upgrading works cover a 9.34-kilometre stretch from Sungai Johor Bridge (KM49.3) to Sungai Semenchu (KM58.7) and are expected to have a positive impact on the tourism sector in Desaru.

“Desaru is a well-known tourism hub in Johor, and with the four-lane facility, more tourists, including those from Singapore, are expected to visit the area,” he told reporters after a working visit to the SDE upgrading project here on Sunday.

He said the ministry hopes the upgrading can be extended from Sungai Semenchu to the end of the expressway in the future.

“We hope there will be an extension from Sungai Semenchu. Perhaps there will be good news later, and let the minister be the one to announce it,” he said.

Commenting on traffic management during the construction period, he said the Traffic Management Programme being implemented is efficient and has not disrupted existing traffic flow.

Ahmad said the SDE upgrading project is among the priorities of the Works Ministry in Johor, in addition to the widening of the North-South Expressway from four to six lanes from Senai Utara to Yong Peng Utara, as well as efforts to resolve traffic issues in Johor Bahru city.

He said the SDE had previously been listed as one of the less profitable expressways, but expressed confidence that the upgrading project would improve traffic flow and the expressway’s financial performance in the future.

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