When we think of tolled expressways or highways, we think of long, multi-lane stretches of road. For example, the North-South Expressway, completed in 1994, connects Bukit Kayu Hitam near Thailand with Johor Baru near Singapore and is 772km long.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's first tolled highway, opened in 1966, is only 20km long. It connects Tanjung Malim in Selangor with Slim River in Perak.
However, is there an even shorter tolled expressway in the country that is still in use today?
Verdict:
TRUE
The Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway is only 7.9km long, and it connects Jalan Sultan Ismail in the heart of the city to the suburbs of Taman Ampang Utama. It is also the country's first intra-urban elevated highway.
As for tolled tunnels, the Storm Management Road Tunnel (SMART) is 9.5km long. It was completed in 2007. It was touted as the world's first dual-function tunnel. It was designed to alleviate traffic and address flash floods in Kuala Lumpur.
Long or short, it is difficult to imagine Malaysia today without these time-saving, city-connecting, and state-spanning roadways. Traffic jams would be more unbearable, and balik kampung during the festive season would almost be impossible.
So next time you're cruising - or possibly crawling - on one of our nation's many expressways, remember that it's not about the destination but the journey.
References:
1. https://www.prolintas.com.my/akleh/
2. https://www.klia2.info/trips/highways/plus-expressway-north-south-expressway/
3. https://www.water.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/430
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanjung_Malim–Slim_River_Highway
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_expressways_and_highways_in_Malaysia
