malaysiang
KUALA LUMPUR: The project to widen the Kuala Lumpur-Karak (KLK) Highway, aimed at addressing congestion issues, especially during festive seasons, public holidays, and weekends, is expected to commence in January, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan stated that the concessionaire is in the process of finalising the project design before commencing physical construction at the site.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the delay in the project is attributed to a change in shareholders that has only recently been finalised. As per the Concession Agreement, the construction period for the KLK highway widening is four years, with completion anticipated by 2029. Ahmad revealed that the widening project will be undertaken by AFA Prime Berhad (formerly ANIH Berhad) as the concessionaire for the KLK Highway, covering a distance of 45.3 kilometres with a total cost of RM2.1 billion.
The scope of work for the KLK Highway widening includes adding one lane to Section 1, increasin
g the current three lanes to four lanes from the Gombak Toll Plaza to Genting Sempah. In Section 2, lanes will increase from two to three from Genting Sempah to Bentong. The project also involves constructing a new two-lane tunnel adjacent to the existing tunnel heading East.
Meanwhile, Ahmad mentioned that the Ministry of Works is conducting a feasibility study for constructing a road from the Pelangai junction, Pahang to Putrajaya. This study aims to enhance connectivity for the Central Spine Road (LTU) while determining alternative routes to alleviate congestion on existing routes from the East Coast to the West Coast. The study is part of the Rolling Plan 4 of the 12th Malaysia Plan and is scheduled for completion on August 12, 2025.
In response to a supplementary question from Wan Razali on the potential reduction of operations at the three tolls at Karak, Bentong, and Gombak to one toll, Ahmad explained that the KLK Highway operates under an open toll system. Any consolidation from three to one toll w
ould have implications on the agreements that have been signed.
