North-South Expressway, Malaysia
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content
E 1 E 2
E1 and E2 expressway




PLUS Expressway Berhad
Length (kilometres) Total length
966 km

Northern route
Bukit Kayu Hitam - Bukit Lanjan
456 km

Southern route
Sungai Besi - Johor Bahru
315 km
Direction North→South
Start Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah
Main destinations Jitra
Alor Star
Sungai Petani
Butterworth
Taiping
Kuala Kangsar
Ipoh
Gopeng
Tapah
Tanjung Malim
Rawang
Kuala Lumpur
Seremban
Alor Gajah
Melaka
Yong Peng
Ayer Hitam
Skudai
Johor Bahru
End Johor Bahru, Johor
Construction dates 1982 - 1994
Road/Expressway joined E 36Penang Bridge
E 1New Klang Valley Expressway
E 6North-South Expressway Central Link
E 29Seremban-Port Dickson Highway
E 3Second Link Expressway
Asian Highway Network AH 2
Technical specifications
Number of lanes 4 lanes
Bukit Kayu Hitam - Sungai Dua
Penang Bridge - Slim River
Ayer Keroh - Johor Bahru

6 lane
Sungai Dua - Penang Bridge
Slim River - Bukit Lanjan
Sungai Besi - Ayer Keroh
Interchanges 75
Toll plazas 65
P Layby citation needed
R&R Rest and Service Area citation needed
R&R Overhead Bridge Restaurant 2
V Vista Point 3
Highway tunnels 1
Type of roads Tarmac
Concrete
Toll systems Closed toll system
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The North-South Expressway (NSE) (Malay: Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan, Chinese: 南北大道, Tamil: வடக்கு - தெற்கு நெடுஞ்சாலை) is the longest expressway in Malaysia with the total length of 966 km (600 miles) running from Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah near the Malaysian-Thai border (connects with the Phetkasem Highway in Thailand) to Johor Bahru at the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. The expressway links many major cities and towns in western Peninsular Malaysia, acting as the 'backbone' of the west coast of the peninsula. It is also known as PLUS Expressway, named after the highway's concessionaire, Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (North South Expressway Project; abbreviated as PLUS).

This expressway passes through 7 states on the peninsula: Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Perak, Penang and Kedah. It provides a faster alternative to the old federal route 1, thus reducing travelling time between various towns & cities.

Contents

Overview

It is divided into a few main routes; E 1 (northern route from Bukit Kayu Hitam to Kuala Lumpur) which also incorporates the E 36 Penang Bridge, E 2 (southern route from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru). The New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), part of the E 1 route, starts from Bukit Raja, Klang to Jalan Duta exit in Kuala Lumpur. The North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE) E 6, opened in 1997, is a highway built to bypass Kuala Lumpur. It starts from the Shah Alam interchange on the NKVE E 1, past Subang Jaya, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and ends at the Nilai Utara interchange on the E 2. The E 3 is the Second Link Expressway (Linkedua), which is connected to Malaysia-Singapore Second Link, starting at Senai Airport and ends in Tanjung Kupang before crossing. PLUS also obtained the Seremban-Port Dickson Highway, E 29, which starts at Mambau in Seremban with an interchange at Lukut and ending near the town centre in Port Dickson.

E 1 and E 2 end in Kuala Lumpur. The E 1 from the North becomes the New Klang Valley Expressway which further links into the NSE Central Link or for people travelling to Kuala Lumpur exit at the Jalan Duta Toll Plaza which links to the Sprint Expressway E 23 and the Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 1 (MRR1) 28. The E 2 from the South ends in Sungai Besi which then changes into the E 37 Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Expressway with interchanges to the Federal Highway Route 2 via Salak Expressway E 37, Sungai Besi Expressway E 9 and heads towards the city centre.

Along North-South Expressway Northern Route near Ipoh, Perak.
Along North-South Expressway Northern Route near Ipoh, Perak.
South section of North-South Expressway, facing towards Kuala Lumpur, near Ayer Keroh, Malacca
South section of North-South Expressway, facing towards Kuala Lumpur, near Ayer Keroh, Malacca

History

The planning of the national expressway started in the mid-1970s. In 1977, the Malaysian Department of Works received official instructions to draw plans of an expressway from the Malaysia-Thailand border (Bukit Kayu Hitam) to the Johor Causeway. In 1980, the Malaysian Highway Authority was established to monitor all the work progress of the first national expressway.

At that time, all construction works of the expressway between 1982 to 1988 was solely administered by Malaysian Highway Authority before being transferred to PLUS Expressway Berhad in 1988. As the construction works continued, segments of the highway were opened to traffic as they were finished to help fund the construction works. PLUS Expressway Berhad continued all the construction works from 1988 until completion in 1994, 15 months earlier than scheduled. The expressway was officially opened on September 8, 1994 by Malaysian prime minister at that time, Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad.

Pioneer routes

The pioneer route for E 1 North-South Expressway Northern Route was the Bukit Kayu Hitam - Jitra section (both in Kedah), which was initially a part of the Federal Route 1, opened in 1 April 1985.

The pioneer route for E 2 North-South Expressway Southern Route was Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Expressway, opened on 16 June 1982. However, the section from Razak Mansion to Sungai Besi toll plaza was not acquired by PLUS Expressway Berhad but rather by MetaCorp - as a result, the section was not included in the southern route.

Carriageways

Generally the expressway consists of 4 lanes, 2 for each direction. There are some exceptions to this; the following are stretches with 6 lanes (3 each way):

Current developments

Six-lane widing works

Recently, plans to upgrade the stretches from Slim River to Tanjung Malim, Tanjung Malim to Rawang (Northern route), Seremban to Senawang, and Senawang to Ayer Keroh (Southern route) has been approved by the government for better traffic flow. Construction is currently in progress.

Non-stop straight route works between Jelapang and Ipoh Selatan

Meanwhile, the Jelapang toll plaza and Ipoh Selatan toll plaza at Ipoh will be relocated to make way for a non-stop passage between Jelapang and Ipoh South. This measure is to avoid accidents (especially involving heavy vehicles like buses and lorries) at accident-prone areas such as Jelapang toll plaza.

Highways of PLUS

Speed limit

North-South Expressway is designed as a high-speed long distance expressway therefore the default speed limit on the North-South Expressway is 110 km/h (68 mph) , but there are some exceptions in some places for several reasons, including:-

  • Bukit Kayu Hitam-Jitra stretch : 90 km/h (expressway section with at-grade junctions) (Kedah)
  • Kuala Kangsar-Jelapang stretch : 80 km/h (highland stretch with dangerous corners) (Perak)
  • Gua Tempurung stretch : 90 km/h (highland stretch) (Perak)
  • Bukit Lanjan exit : 80 km/h (to control traffic flow of NKVE and the main link of northern route to avoid accidents) (Selangor)
  • Sungai Besi to Bangi : 90 km/h (due to high traffic capacity) (Kuala Lumpur- Selangor)
  • Sungai Dua-Juru : 90 km/h (due to heavy traffic at Penang Bridge) (Penang)

Notable incidents

  • On March 27, 2008, Singaporean family of 4 killed in accident along North-South Expressway near Tangkak, Johor, leaving behind a 2-month-old baby.
The Malacca state border sign along the North South Expressway.
The Malacca state border sign along the North South Expressway.

Measures taken to reduce accidents

Two-Lane 110 km/h highway.
Two-Lane 110 km/h highway.

Most heavy vehicles are only allowed to travel 80-90 km/h by law. Considering that two lanes are inadequate for smooth traffic flow, the expressway is being widened as a result of the increasing number of fatal accidents along this highway.

It has been recently decided that the two-lane 110 km/h highway will be upgraded to a three-lane 110 km/h highway. The highway widening project has been underway since 2006 as an accident-reducing measure.

Toll system

Toll booths at Sungai Besi Toll Plaza, leading to Kuala Lumpur. Almost all of the south section of the expressway is covered by the closed system.
Toll booths at Sungai Besi Toll Plaza, leading to Kuala Lumpur. Almost all of the south section of the expressway is covered by the closed system.
Toll plaza with Smart Tag and Touch & Go lanes
Toll plaza with Smart Tag and Touch & Go lanes

The North-South Expressway is a toll expressway with two toll systems:-

  • Open system - Users only have to pay at certain toll plazas within the open system range for a fixed amount. "Open system" is used in the following stretches of the North-South expressway:
  1. Batu Tiga and Sungai Rasau, (Selangor)
  2. Bukit Kayu Hitam, (Kedah)
  3. Jitra, (Kedah)
  4. Kempas, (Johor)
  5. Johor-Singapore Causeway,
  6. Lukut and Mambau, (Negri Sembilan)
  7. Tanjung Kupang, Taman Perling and Lima Kedai (Johor).
  • Closed system - Users collect toll tickets before entering the expressway at respective toll plazas and pay an amount of toll at the exit toll plaza plus the distance from the plaza to the Limit of Maintenance Responsibility (LMR).

Toll rate classes for every PLUS Expressways (except Penang Bridge)

Class Type of vehicles Payment Notes
0 Motorcycles, bicycles or vehicles with 2 or less wheels Free Except Tanjung Kupang toll plaza on the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link
1 Vehicles with 2 axles and 3 or 4 wheels excluding taxis RM (Cash) TnG TAG
2 Vehicles with 2 axles and 5 or 6 wheels excluding buses RM (Cash) TnG TAG
3 Vehicles with 3 or more axles RM (Cash) Cash only
4 Taxis RM (Cash) Cash only, paid by passengers only.
5 Buses RM (Cash) Cash only

Toll rate classes for Penang Bridge

Class Type of vehicles Payment Notes
1 Motorcycles, bicycles or vehicles with 2 or less wheels RM (Cash) TnG
2 Motorcycle with sidecars, cars including station wagon and commercial vehicles on three wheels RM (Cash) TnG TAG For taxis, toll charges are paid by passengers only.
3 Lorries, vans and buses with two axles and four wheels RM (Cash) TnG TAG
4 Lorries, vans and buses with two axles and five and six wheels RM (Cash) Cash only
5 Vehicles with three axles RM (Cash) Cash only
6 Vehicles with four axles RM (Cash) Cash only
7 Vehicles with five or more axles RM (Cash) Cash only
toll receipt
toll receipt
toll ticket
toll ticket

Toll Abbreviation

For toll rates, see also Toll rates of the North-South Expressway
(Source: PLUS Expressway Berhad)
For more information see also Toll rates of the North-South Expressway

Facilities along the expressway

  • Rest and service areas located about 60 km from each other
  • Layby parking areas located about every 2 toll plazas
  • Overhead restaurants at Ayer Keroh, Sungai Buloh and USJ.
  • Emergency phones every 2 km
  • PLUSLINE hotline number
  • PLUS Ronda (PLUS patrol) service to assist drivers in the event of vehicle problems on the expressway
  • PLUS helicopter patrol unit to monitored along PLUS expressways
Touch 'n Go card
Touch 'n Go card

General facts about the expressway

  • North-South Expressway is Malaysia's first long-distance expressway as well as Malaysia's longest expressway.
  • Menora Tunnel, an 800 m (-- ft) tunnel on the North-South Expressway Northern Route near Jelapang, was once Malaysia's longest highway tunnel at the time of its construction.
  • Sungai Besi toll plaza is the widest toll plaza in Malaysia with over 18 lanes (excluding additional toll booths).
  • The longest bridge along the expressway is Sungai Perak Bridge (Jambatan Sultan Azlan Shah) with the length of 300 m (-- ft).
  • North-South Expressway is the first expressway in Malaysia that provides overhead bridge restaurants.
  • The longest flyover bridge along the NSE network is Batu Tiga flyover in the North-South Expressway Central Link.
  • The most expensive section of the expressway is the Gopeng-Tapah section. At RM200 million, it translate to RM 20 million per kilometre. Embankment strengthening is the major contributor for this escalating cost.
  • The ELITE Speedway in USJ Layby on North-South Expressway Central Link is the first highway go-kart circuit in Malaysia.
  • North-South Expressway forms 80% of Malaysian part of the Asian Highway Network, specifically Asian Highway Network 2 AH 2. The other expressways in Malaysia included in the route are Skudai Highway, Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 1 and Johor Causeway.
  • The Nilai Memorial Park near Nilai Layby on North-South Expressway Southern Route is the first closed tolled expressway public memorial park in Malaysia.
  • Tapah RSA (both sides) in Perak is the first rest and service area to have wireless broadband internet facilities.
  • The PLUS Art Gallery in Ayer Keroh Overhead Bridge Restaurant (OBR) is the first highway art gallery in Malaysia.
  • Kempas Highway (Johor State Route J3 ) is the only state route ever built by an expressway concessionaire company (PLUS Expressway Berhad).
  • While more than 95% of the expressway is only accessible via interchanges, the section between Bukit Kayu Hitam and Jitra (both in Kedah) is accessible via at-grade junctions. It is due to the fact that the section itself is a part of Federal Route 1.
  • By default, certain slow-moving vehicles such as bicycles, steam rollers, tractors, excavators and backhoes are not allowed to use the expressway; however, these vehicles are temporarily allowed to use the stretch between Juru and Sg. Dua (both in Penang) to enable them to use the Penang Bridge. These vehicles must exit the expressway via one of the interchanges within the stretch and use the federal roads instead to continue their travel.

List of interchanges

See also

See also

External links

v • d • e
Malaysian Expressway System
History
Toll rates
Interstate
Klang Valley and Selangor
E 4 # Shah Alam-Kemuning Highway • E 5 Shah Alam Expressway (SAE/KESAS) • E 7 Cheras - Kajang Expressway (CKE/Grand Saga) • E 9 Sungai Besi Expressway (SBE/BESRAYA) • E 10 New Pantai Expressway (NPE) • E 11 Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP) • E 12 Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH) • E 16 # Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE) • E 18 Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway (SILK) • E 20 Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Expressway (KLPE) • E 23 Sprint Expressway (Kerinchi Link, Damansara Link and Penchala Link) • E 25 ^ Assam Jawa-Templer Park Highway (LATAR) • E 26 South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE) • E 30 New North Klang Straits Bypass (NNKSB) • E 35 Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE) • E 37 Salak Expressway (East-West) and Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Expressway • E 38 Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART Tunnel)
Johor
Penang
Others
Legend - # denotes highway under construction, ^ for under development.
v • d • e
PLUS Expressway Networks
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