KL-Karak Highway Widening Project Starts This Year

In an effort to alleviate the ongoing traffic jams on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway (KLK), the Federal Government has approved a widening project that is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2024. Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Menteri Besar Pahang, announced the long-term measure as a calculated move to improve traffic flow along the crucial expressway.

Concessionaire Anih Berhad has been given the task of widening a section of Gombak Toll Plaza to the intersection of Lingkaran Tengah Utama in Bentong.

According to Wan Rosdy the project's main features include building a second tunnel, enhancing the shoulders of the roads, and installing street lights all along the way which serve the purpose to guarantee the comfort and safety of drivers, especially during periods of high traffic.

Temporary measures to address the congestion problem include reserving time during off-peak hours for maintenance projects and segmenting the westbound lanes at the Gombak Toll Plaza based on areas such as Ampang and Batu Caves. 

Two tidal flow locations will be introduced at KM55-59 eastbound and KM60-56 westbound as part of the short-term strategy. In order to effectively reduce congestion, these measures can only be put into action if a traffic ratio of 70-30 (west-east) is achieved through efficient traffic dispersion, he added.