IPOH, July 10 — West Coast Expressway Sdn Bhd (WCESB) is aiming to open four more sections of the West Coast Expressway — the SKVE, Banting, Assam Jawa and South Taiping sections —by the end of this year.

WCE Highway operations manager Syed Muhd Naguib Syed Mohd said 35-kilometre (km) Section 11, Beruas-South Taiping section was at 88 per cent complete and is expected to begin operations by year end.

"Construction now involves elements of engineering, toll, slope and mechanical work,” he said at a media conference after a WCESB engagement session with Perak state media here today.

Syed Muhd Naguib said as the route passes through Bubu Forest Reserve, WCE will also build an animal box culvert as an environmental conservation measure.

In addition, for the Perak route, WCE plans to build four Rest and Service Areas (R&R) — Teluk Intan R&R (north and south), Sungai Wangi R&R (south), Ayer Tawar R&R (north) and Sg Nyior R&R (north and south), he said, adding that it would also have two electric vehicle charging facilities at Lekir and Teluk Intan.

He also said that the number of vehicles using the WCE has increased by 30 per cent, to 50,000 to 60,000 vehicles daily.

"During the recent Aidilfitri celebrations, traffic volume reached 100,000 vehicles a day and 85,000 for Raya Aidiladha,” he said.

WCE had previously stated that the 316km expressway would be fully completed by 2025. — Bernama