Jalan B66 Batang Kali-Genting To Reopen In January Instead Of End 2023

Following the disastrous landslide disaster last week, Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari announced today that the one-way path along the Jalan B66 Batang Kali-Genting road could reopen to light vehicles in early January next year. This is significantly sooner than the projected one-year total road closure stated by Works Ministry secretary-general Datuk Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman a few days ago.

He further stated that this conclusion was reached following negotiations with the Public Works Department (JKR) yesterday. This is also to provide access to the 5,000 or so Batang Kali, Hulu Selangor inhabitants who rely on the road to get to and from employment in Genting Highlands.

"The route would be exclusively one-way and the vehicles would be stopped from the top to give way to those arriving from the other direction," Amirudin added. The council will also try to widen the roadways that were not damaged by the avalanche so that light cars may pass through. The road has been mended using crushed rough stones".

Road users are advised to keep an eye out for further announcements on this topic in the first week of January, since this decision will necessitate extensive coordination with numerous stakeholders, including the security forces.

However, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi declared yesterday that the route will reopen to motorbike riders within a week.

(Source: Selangor Journal)