Page 428 - Westport Guide To Malaysia

420 MALAYSIA BY ROAD
The Overhead Bridge Restaurant at Ayer Keroh on the North South Expressway allows travellers to dine in comfort while watching the traffic.
East-West Highway (Lebuhraya Timur-Barat) crosses the Titiwangsa Range, the mountainous spine of Peninsular Malaysia, reducing travel time between Grik, Perak, in the west and Jeli, Kelantan, in the east by several hours. Constructed by the Public Works Department (JKR) between 1970 and 1982, it was later extended to Kulim, Kedah, by 2005. With its hilly terrain, tunnels and elephant crossing signs it
is one of Malaysia’s most picturesque routes.
In East Malaysia, the Pan Borneo or Trans Borneo Highway, currently being extended and upgraded to a dual carriageway
by JKR, links Sabah and Sarawak with Brunei and the Kalimantan region in Indonesia. When completed, the Malaysian portion will run 2,083km from Sematan in southwest Sarawak to Serudong in southeast Sabah, connecting to Lundu, Bau, Kuching, Serian (with a spur road to West Kalimantan), Sri Aman, Sarikei, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, Brunei, Limbang, and Lawas in Sarawak and Sindumin, Sipitang, Beaufort, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau in Sabah.
In addition to its expressways, Malaysia also has an extensive 85,000km network of Federal and State roads which offer toll- free alternative routes. They connect virtually every town, city, suburb and village in
Ulu Klang to the heart of the city; and the 26km
Maju Expressway (MEX) which provides the shortest route between Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLlA).
Getting to the scenic East Coast is effortless, thanks to the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway and the 358km East Coast Expressway (LPT). Together they run
from Kuala Lumpur’s Middle Ring Road 2 all the way to Kuala Terengganu, connecting Genting Highlands, Temerloh, Mentakab, Kuantan, Chukai, Kemaman, Kerteh, Kuala Dungun, Kuala Berang
and many popular resorts. Extensions are planned to Kota Bharu in the north and
Johor Bahru in the south. Not every highway is
private sector built and operated. The toll-free
One of the Malaysian Highway Authority’s Traffic Control Centres, where the flow of vehicles is constantly monitored and managed.