Independent assessment on East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2) reveals soil erosion, water retention issues

Crash accident collision

Last week, it was reported that an independent audit will be carried out on the East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2), where 85 deaths and 1,991 accidents have been reported since its opening in 2011. The safety audit will determine the highway’s roadworthiness and dictate the necessary repair works that need be done.

Now, the first report from a team of evaluators has been released, following several site visits to blackspot areas of LPT2 since last week. The team is comprised of the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), Terengganu Public Works Department (PWD) and road reconstruction unit (RCU) from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros).

According to The Sun, the team detected slight soil erosion due to sedimentation problems, originating from an unstable base due to peat soil conditions. A road engineer from the team stated that, “these erosion problems compromise driving safety, more so if road users exceed the speed limit.”

The evaluators will look into the level of soil stabilisation on LPT2 in order to determine if the highway could bear the weight of the pavement, as well as the constantly changing traffic load. Unstable soil and water retention on the road surface after a heavy downpour were also noted in crash-prone areas of the highway.

Vibrations of the road pavement will also be measured by the team, according to the road engineer. “If vibrations are too rigorous, the road pavement must be grinded to provide a smooth surface,” he said. Aside from the suggested repair works, additional signage will be installed along the highway to remind users to adhere to the speed limits.

Human factor was touted as the reason behind 70% out of 339 accident cases that occurred on LPT2 between Feb 1 and June 2, according to a statement by LLM director-general Datuk Ismail Md Salleh stated in June.

On October 20, Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof instructed the Public Works Department (JKR) to appoint an independent assessor to assess the expressway’s road surface to see if its grip index adhered to specification.

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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • Jobless on Oct 28, 2015 at 8:21 pm

    No need indepedent studies tat cost a bomb, just ask any driver especially kl pj full of stupid potholes tat damaged cars and cause fatal accidemts when motorist tried to avoid them…and pls ask LeeLanTie stop writing stupid long letters to the media tat nobody bothers to read everytime a big accidemt occurs

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Letstorque on Oct 28, 2015 at 8:37 pm

    Just saw the convoy that did the assessment today on LPT2. Overall almost 10 vehicles with police escort. JKR, LPT operator.
    One is Land Cruiser Prado with some steel structure instead of bumper for the front. Seems like a big scanner. Very wide. More that 2m wide. Already saw that Prado before doing its thing.

    Another vehicle is new to me. Some sort of MPV with a big attachment at the rear. From afar look like an MPV moving with the tailgate wide open.

    I think it is another scanner or camera or whatever.

    I have saw once on TV about this tech developed by CSIRO of Australia. Basically they are taking continous pictures of the road surface, while tagging to location using GPS and Inertial Navigation System.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
    • In b4 that is just waste of rakyat money, crony, corruption,etc, DAP can do better job with a blind man and his bomb detection dog (jangan persoal why but macai logic can twist this to sound logical)

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 8
    • I never see those vehicles but the scanner sounds like a ground penetrating radar which is used to study soil structure underneath asphalt layer.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • azrai on Oct 29, 2015 at 10:32 am

      The MPV is Hyundai Starex with some sort of scanner.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Believe me, close shop P2 can save a lot of life. Estimate can save 2000 ppl per year

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 4
  • azrai on Oct 29, 2015 at 8:30 am

    This is what you get when you ask a cobbler to make a hat.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • eeeriz on Oct 29, 2015 at 8:49 am

    I’m a frequent user of LPT2 every week. I have noticed the writer has upload a picture of speed bump. Where on earth in LPT2 got this speed bump? Not on the highway and not on the road leading to tolls.

    But I agree one thing, LPT2 is really messy with uneven road from Jabor until KT! The R&R is really pathetic with low light and broken toilet. Aiyaa…..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • azrai on Oct 29, 2015 at 10:32 am

    LPT2 – Laluan Paling Tragik 2.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Ootai on Oct 29, 2015 at 10:42 am

    You don’t need to go to lpt2. The tolled roads in klang valley are no better. They are only concered to increase the rates. The guthrie expressway have substandard patch up every where. The two wheelers are squeezing as if they pay monkey notes. If you drive night times, be extra cautious of shadowy objects under the bridges or crossing the roads. Concessionaires!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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