Construction of the 63km Segamat-Tangkak-Muar Highway, estimated to cost between RM750 million and RM770 million, will start in November.

Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Mansor said the implementation of the project proved that the Barisan Nasional government had kept its promise made to the people during the Tenang state seat by-election.

"During that by-election, I had stated that the government would try to speed up the project to upgrade the Segamat-Tangkak-Muar road into a four-lane highway as desired by the residents since 20 years ago.

"We announced it not to fish for votes, nor was it an empty promise made during an election, but felt that the project needed to be given priority due to many accidents occurring along this road," he said after visiting the highway project site in Jalan Muar, here, today.

Also present were Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, who is also Segamat member of parliament, and Kemelah assemblyman Ayub Rahmat.

Shaziman said while the road upgrading project would be carried out in five packages, the Public Works Department (PWD) would also be upgrading 14 bridges along the route.

He said the tender for the first package closed one month ago and the PWD had received an allocation of RM100 from the Finance Ministry for this package.

He also hoped the 2012 Budget to be tabled in parliament by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Finance Minister, would consider the allocation requested for repairing roads and bridges throughout the country as maintaining these would e cheaper than building new ones.

He, however, declined to reveal the amount requested. Bernama