A landslide on the North-South Expressway near the Menora Tunnel has prompted the closure of the left lane in the southbound direction, with police saying the measure is a precaution while they monitor the affected slope.
The closure covers about one kilometre, from KM 262.8 to KM 263.8, following the slope collapse at KM 263.6 between the Menora Tunnel and Ipoh.
Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the left lane was closed using safety cones because of the landslide area. A contraflow has not been activated at this stage, with traffic conditions being assessed continuously.
CCTV cameras at a nearby vista point are being directed towards the site to monitor both the condition of the landslide area and traffic movement.
The closure follows a major traffic disruption reported yesterday, when congestion along the southbound route stretched to about 15 kilometres. The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) said the jam had initially covered four kilometres before worsening as cleanup operations at the landslide site continued.
For motorists heading south, the immediate concern is not simply congestion, but reduced road space around the landslide site as cleanup operations continue.
Police said they, PLUS Malaysia Bhd and other relevant agencies are continuing to monitor the site. Motorists have been advised to slow down when approaching the affected stretch, follow directions from personnel and observe temporary safety signs.
For now, traffic continues without a contraflow arrangement. However, the traffic management plan may change depending on conditions at the site.
