WCE Constructs Two Wildlife Tunnels along the Beruas-Taiping Route

By: Zaki Salleh

IPOH – Two animal box culverts, known as wildlife tunnels, will be constructed across the Bubu Forest Reserve along the West Coast Expressway (WCE) to serve as wildlife crossings.

The construction of these unique wildlife tunnels, utilising local engineering expertise, marks a first for highways in Malaysia.

The entire 35.5-kilometre stretch from the Beruas Interchange to the South Taiping Interchange is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Ir. Syed Muhd. Naguib Syed Mohd., Chief Operating Officer of WCE Expressway, stated that the construction of these dedicated wildlife passages aims to preserve the environment and protect wildlife habitats.

“This stretch will traverse the Bubu Forest Reserve, and as a step towards environmental conservation and ecosystem preservation, we are building two animal box culverts as wildlife crossings.

“This construction of dedicated wildlife tunnels utilising local engineering expertise is also a first for highways in Malaysia,” he added during a media session with the WCE Expressway management held in Ipoh.

Also present was the General Manager of Strategic Communication & Stakeholder Engagement of WCE, Syed Mohammed Idid.

At present, the construction of the northern section of WCE, specifically Section 11, is already 88 percent complete. This involves various engineering elements, including road surfacing, slope construction, toll plaza construction, and mechanical works.

According to Syed Muhd. Naguib, six Rest and Service Areas (R&R) will be built in Perak next year, with three in each section. These include R&R areas in the south and north of Teluk Intan, the south of Sungai Wangi, the north of Air Tawar, and the north and south of Sungai Nyior.

“The distance between each R&R in each section is 60 kilometres. Discussions are also underway with several parties for the opening of petrol stations at each of these R&R areas,” he stated.