1.6 mil vehicles expected on PLUS expressway daily during X'Mas & New Year exodus

A total of 1.6 million vehicles are expected to use the North-South Expressway (PLUS) daily during the peak hours ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays, starting from Dec 23 to Jan 3, 2017.

PLUS Malaysia Berhad managing director Datuk Noorizah Abd Hamid said the number would increase by 14 percent compared to the number of vehicles on weekdays, which is 1.4 million daily, as the public holidays fell on weekend and school holidays.

"PLUS would like to advise road users to plan their trips in conjunction with the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays based on the Travel Time Advisory (TTA) issued by PLUS," she said in a statement today.

Noorizah said the TTA recommended staggered travel times for various destinations from the Klang Valley to states and major cities in Kedah, Perlis, Penang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor.

It is PLUS' way of distributing traffic and reducing congestion on the main highways, toll plazas and rest areas during peak hours, she said.

The TTA proposes that motorists from the Klang Valley heading to Perlis and Kedah to enter the highway from 6am to 10am, while the suitable time to Penang, Perak (North) and Perak (Tengah) are between 10am to 6pm.

For those who are heading to Perak (South) and Selangor, the TTA proposes that they begin their journey after 6pm, to Johor (between 6am and 3pm) and to Negeri Sembilan and Melaka, after 3pm.

Meanwhile, it was proposed that motorists heading to Klang Valley from Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak (North), Perak (Tengah), Perak (South), Selangor, Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka to enter the highway before 11am or after 5pm.

Users can get the latest traffic information by calling the toll free PLUSLine at 1800 88 0000, follow the PLUSTrafik Twitter service or download the PLUS Mobile Application through their smartphones or tablets. -- BERNAMA