JOHOR BARU: The construction of the RM1.1bil Coastal Highway has begun and the 15km six-lane project is expected to be ready by 2010.

The highway's seven interchanges and three bridges would be a lifeline for the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) as it provides a vital road link between the east and west of South Johor, Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said.
He said site-clearing works had begun and they would be followed by piling and construction.

“It is one of the biggest infrastructure projects within the IDR,” Ghani said in a statement.

The highway will connect Johor Baru city to the Johor State New Administrative Centre in Nusajaya (JSNAC) and the Second Link crossing.

JSNAC, the nexus of the IDR, is 90% completed and will be ready for occupation by June.

The highway project is spearheaded by the South Johor Investment Corp (SJIC), the master developer and investor in strategic projects.

The highway will be a boon for visitors from Singapore using the new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex here as it will provide direct access to Danga Bay, Nusajaya, JSNAC and a proposed theme park.

“The economic spin-offs from the highway project will be tremendous as it will lead to the creation of new growth centres in Skudai and Gelang Patah,” Ghani said.

He said at least two mega projects worth billions of ringgit would begin this year in the IDR, including the RM4.2bil Node 1 project funded by Arab investors.

source: the star