KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 ― The 28.5km stretch of Federal Highway is under the jurisdiction of three different authorities, Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof confirmed.

He said the dedicated motorcycle lanes on both bounds of the highway spanned between Mid Valley in Kuala Lumpur and Sungai Rasau in Klang.

"Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) manages about 2.4km of the motorcycle lane from Mid Valley while SPRINT is responsible for about 2km of the lanes until Kota Darul Ehsan,” he told Malay Mail recently.

SPRINT is a concession company that operates SPRINT Highway in the capital city.

From Kota Darul Ehsan until Berkelley Roundabout in Klang, Fadillah said the motorcycle lanes that stretched 24.1km fell under the Public Works Department's (PWD) responsibility.

"This stretch includes those taken over from PLUS starting January 1 this year,” he explained.

Fadillah was responding to questions raised on who is actually in charge of the country's first highway after the abolition of its tolled status this year.

He added that, based on information from the Malaysian Highway Authority, there are currently no prohibitions for motorcycles to use the main carriageway of toll highways even if these highways have dedicated motorcycle lanes.

"The motorcycle lanes under the Public Works Department's jurisdiction were gazetted on July 1, 2001 under PU (A) 188. However, no specific prohibition for motorcycle to enter mainline was made at that time,” he said.

He pointed out that motorcyclists were encouraged to use motorcycle lanes for their safety, but the question on whether they should be prohibited from using the main carriageway needed to be viewed from many angles.

He said factors such as motorcycle configuration, such as whether it is two wheels, three wheels  and its horsepower, the design features of motorcycle lanes, and the time of use should also be taken into consideration.

He said the length of motorcycle lanes will have numerous provisions of ingresses and egresses to allow motorcyclists to enter into the lane from the main carriageway, or to exit from it to join the interchange ramps.

Malay Mail recently brought to light the growing numbers of motorcyclists using the main carriageway of Federal Highway due to closures of dedicated motorcycle lanes.

Some motorists have questioned authorities’ inaction in stopping motorcyclists from using the main carriageway, while motorcyclists have defended their actions by pointing out that some of the dedicated motorcycle lanes were closed for upgrading works.

Fadillah said that the 8.1km stretch of both bounds of motorcycle lanes from Kota Darul Ehsan to Kelab Golf Subang was closed for upgrading works since August last year. Upgrading works are expected to complete by April this year.

He explained the upgrading works could be the reason why authorities had waived strict enforcement action against motorcyclists who do not follow road signages and directions along that stretch.