Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Expressway

Malaysian expressway routebox
expressway= Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Expressway
Highway concessionaire's
Maju Expressway Sdn Bhd
"(Formerly known as Konsortium Lapangan Terjaya Sdn Bhd (KLT))"
E--= MES-E|20
E20
length-km= 26
direction= North→South
start= Kampung Pandan Interchange
destinations= Kuala Lumpur
Salak South
Sri Petaling
Bukit Jalil
Putrajaya
Cyberjaya
Kuala Lumpur International Airport Airport signs
end= Putrajaya Interchange
starting-date= 2004
completion-date= 2007
interchanges= Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 1
MES-E|37Salak Expressway
MES-E|37 AHN-AH|2Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Expressway
MES-E|10New Pantai Expressway
MES-E|5Shah Alam Expressway
MES-E|6Putrajaya Link
Asian Highway Network=None
Development Cost=
Number of lanes=4-6 lanes
Interchanges=4
Toll plazas=2
Layby=none
Rest and Service Area=2
Overhead Bridge Restaurant=none
Vista Point=none
Highway tunnels=none
Type of roads=Tarmac
Toll systems=Opened toll systems

The Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Expressway (KLPE) (formerly known as KL-KLIA Dedicated Expressway) MES-E|20 is an expressway in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia. The 26 km (16 miles)-long expressway links the Kuala Lumpur City Centre with the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, Selangor.

Overview

The Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Expressway (KLPE) MES-E|20 was planned to be a strategic and direct linkage between the commercial centre of Kuala Lumpur to the Federal Administrative centre of Putrajaya. The expressway will eventually be linked to the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) of Cyberjaya and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang, Selangor. The Kuala Lumpur – Putrajaya Expressway also provides regional connectivity between the Middle Ring Road 1 at "Jalan Tun Razak" as well as the Middle Ring Road 2 via the Shah Alam Expressway. The regional connectivity is also intended to relieve traffic congestion and act as traffic dispersal for the commercial centre of Kuala Lumpur. The Kuala Lumpur–Putrajaya Expressway will also serve as a catalyst for development of the southern corridor of Klang Valley.

History

The project was proposed in 1995, however it was suspended in 1997 due to the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The project was revived in 2004 and is expected to be completed by December 2007. The main stretch of the expressway is now opened for traffic on 13 December 2007. On May 2008, Kosortium Lapangan Terjaya Sdn Bhd (KLT) changed its name to Maju Expressway Sdn Bhd.

Controversial issues

Noise and cracks at Sri Petaling

The development stage of the Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Expressway created a controversy due to the effects of the construction to the houses of the residents in Sri Petaling [http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=156377 Safety, Noise Barrier Walls For Section Of KL-Putrajaya Expressway] - Bernama.com. Accessed on 1 February 2008] . There were several cracks reported to some houses, fueling protests among the Sri Petaling residents against the construction of the expressway.

According to the residents, the expressway was reported to be built too near to residential houses, which was claimed by Sri Petaling residents as violating the expressway construction standards [http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=156377 Safety, Noise Barrier Walls For Section Of KL-Putrajaya Expressway] - Bernama.com. Accessed on 1 February 2008] . The expressway which was built too near to the residential areas (only 2 m from residential houses) also causes concerns about noise pollution as well as safety issues that would be caused by the expressway [http://www.sripetaling.net/issues.php KL-PUTRAJAYA ELEVATED HIGHWAY 2 METRES AWAY FROM RESIDENTIAL HOUSES] - sripetaling.net. Accessed on 2 February 2008.] .

Despite of the complaints and protests by the residents, the Malaysian Minister of Works, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu insisted that sound barriers would be installed along the Sri Petaling section and the Sri Petaling flyover would be made higher to reduce noise pollution.

Last-minute motorcycle ban on the expressway

On 31 January 2008, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu officially banned all motorcycles from using the Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Expressway [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/1/nation/20197840&sec=nation Bikes banned on expressway] - The Star. Accessed on 1 February 2008.] , which was said due to "safety reasons" due to the so-called "limited space" on the expressway. Ironically, the double-decked Kerinchi Link of the Sprint Expressway which was almost similar in terms of design (except for the double-deck design) is allowed to be used by all motorcyclists. Originally, motorcyclists were used to be allowed on the expressway and both Putrajaya and Salak toll plazas included motorcycle lanes.

Several weeks before the official ban, there were some reported cases of motorcyclists being chased away from the expressway by the concessionaire staff. The last-minute ban fueled anger among motorcyclists especially in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya and viewed as a discrimination against Malaysian motorcyclists. Even with motorcycle ban, there are less driver travelling on this expressway.

On 6 June 2008, the motorcycle ban was lifted by the new Minister of Works, Datuk Ir. Mohd Zin Mohamed as an effort to encourage people to use motorcycles as a more fuel-economic alternative to cars [http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/arkib.asp?y=2008&dt=0606&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=dalam%5Fnegeri&pg=dn_26.htm&arc=hive Penunggang motosikal boleh guna lebuh raya Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya] - "Utusan Malaysia", 6 June 2008.] . The decision was made as a result of the recent Malaysian fuel price hike where the price of RON97 petrol was increased from RM1.92 to RM2.70.

Toll rates

alak South toll plaza

References

External links

* [http://www.maju.com.my Maju Holdings Berhad]
* [http://www.kl-putrahighway.com.my/index.htm Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Expressway]