Motorists travelling along the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) near Shah Alam were brought to a standstill last night after a large overhead structure collapsed across the highway.
The incident took place at Kilometre 8.4 of the NKVE and blocked all lanes heading north, causing a long traffic jam shortly before midnight.
The right lane on the southbound side was also reportedly affected.
Chickens seen scattered across highway
Photos and videos shared online showed a large structure, believed to be a highway gantry, lying across the northbound lanes.
Several heavy vehicles were also spotted near the scene, and numerous chickens could be seen scattered across the highway.
The lorry transporting the animals appeared to have skidded and crashed into the road divider.
However, it has not been confirmed whether the lorry caused the structure to collapse.
Safety group calls for comprehensive audits
Following the incident, the Safe Community Alliance Association’s chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye later confirmed that no lives were lost in the incident.
He called for comprehensive and regular safety audits of all structures installed along or across major highways.
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the collapse should not be treated as an ordinary traffic disruption, despite no fatalities being reported.
Instead, he said it should serve as a serious warning to those responsible for installing, inspecting and maintaining structures along highways.
Structures such as billboards, overhead gantries, signboards and steel frames are exposed to risks including strong winds, heavy rain, corrosion, material fatigue, damaged joints and ageing, he added.
According to him, safety audits should examine the physical condition of each structure, the stability of its foundation, its joints and bolts, corrosion levels and its ability to withstand weather and environmental pressures.
Any structure found to be unsafe, severely damaged or no longer compliant with safety requirements should be repaired, reinforced or removed immediately.
We cannot wait until a structure collapses and potentially crushes a vehicle before taking action,” he said.
‘Public safety cannot depend on luck’
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye also urged highway authorities and operators to maintain a complete inventory of all structures and billboards installed along highways.
The records should include details about the owner, installation date, party responsible for maintenance and date of the latest safety inspection.
He added that highway operators should not bear the responsibility alone.
Owners, advertisers, contractors and approving authorities must also ensure the structures do not pose a danger to motorists.
Lee called on the Malaysian Highway Authority, local councils, highway concessionaires and structure owners to conduct immediate safety inspections following the incident.
“Road safety must never be compromised. We should be grateful whenever an incident ends without any loss of life. However, public safety cannot depend on luck,” he said.
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