East Coast Expressway

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Mes-e8.png

Expressway 8
East Coast Expressway
[[File:
East Coast Expressway is located in Peninsular Malaysia
East Coast Expressway (Peninsular Malaysia)
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Route information
Maintained by ANIH Berhad (phase 1) and PLUS Expressways (phase 2)
Length: 358 km (222 mi)
Phase 1: 174 km (108 mi)
Phase 2: 184 km (114 mi)
Existed: 2001 – present
History: Phase 1 competed in 2004, Phase 2 completed in 2015.
Major junctions
West end: E8 Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway at Karak, Pahang
  2 Jalan Kuantan–Kuala Lumpur
236 Jalan Lanchang
98 Federal Route 98
83 Jalan Bandar Pusat Jengka
222 MEC Highway
231 Jalan Sungai Lembing
101 Gebeng Bypass
14 Jerangau–Jabor Highway
237 Federal Route 237
124 Federal Route 124
122 Ketengah Highway
132 Bukit Besi Highway
106 Federal Route 106
North end: 3 Federal Route 3 at Kuala Nerus, Terengganu
Location
Primary
destinations:		 Karak
Temerloh
Maran
Kuantan
Kemaman
Bukit Besi
Marang
Ajil
Kuala Terengganu
Highway system

The East Coast Expressway, ECE (Malay: ''Lebuhraya Pantai Timur'') (LPT) E8 [1] is an expressway in Malaysia. It is an extension of Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway E8/FT2, which starts from Kuala Lumpur to Karak. It provides a link from the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia to the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It features a closed toll system like the North-South Expressway. The expressway links many major cities and towns in east coast Peninsular Malaysia, acting as the 'backbone' of the central of the peninsula.

This expressway passes through 3 states on the peninsula: Selangor, Pahang and Terengganu. It provides a faster alternative to the old Kuala Lumpur-Kuantan Road FT2 and the Jerangau-Jabor Highway FT14, thus reducing travelling time between various towns & cities. The expressway is part of the Asian Highway Network of route (Karak - Jabur section) and the speed limit on the expressway is 110 km/h (68 mph).

Route background

The East Coast Expressway is a 758 km (471 mi)-long, closed toll, 4-lane expressway (2 per direction) beginning from the end of the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway at the Karak Interchange in Karak, Pahang through Lanchang, Mentakab, Temerloh, Chenor, Maran, Sri Jaya, Gambang, Kuantan, Jabur, Chenih, Chukai, Kijal, Kerteh, Paka, Dungun, Bukit Besi, Ajil, Telemong and ending in Kampung Gemuruh near Kuala Nerus in Terengganu.

History

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See also: Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway
The Karak Toll Plaza on the East Coast Expressway towards Titiwangsa Range, Pahang.
The Sultan Ahmad Shah II Bridge (Semantan Bridge) cross Pahang River.

Early development (1994-2001)

The construction of a controlled-access expressway from Karak to Kuala Terengganu was first announced in 1994 at the time when the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway E8/FT2 was being upgraded from the former 2-lane highway to a full expressway.[2] At that time, the original concessionaire company of the expressway project was a consortium company formed by MMC Corporation Berhad (through its subsidiary, Projek Lebuhraya Timur Sdn. Bhd. (Pelita)), MTD Group and Malaysian Resource Corporation Berhad (MRCB).[3] The 338-km expressway was initially planned as a different route than the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway even though the former would begin at the end point of the latter.[2] At that time, the initial estimated construction cost of the expressway was RM4.6 billion before being reduced to RM4.26 billion for the entire section from Karak to Kuala Terengganu. Due to the very high cost, MTD Group and MRCB withdrew from the consortium, leaving Pelita to do the job alone.[2][4] The concession contract between Pelita and the government was signed on 9 September 1998; however, there was no sign of any construction works by the original concessionaire due to the effects of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, hence nullifying the former concession agreement.[5]

The first delay of the project became a controversial issue nationwide. To make things worse, the Prime Minister at that time, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, announced that all expressway projects at that time to be postponed, claiming that Malaysians were not ready to pay toll in order to enjoy higher-quality highways.[6] After the state governments of Pahang, Terengganu and Johor pleaded to the federal government not to delay the expressway projects, the federal government finally agreed to go on with the East Coast Expressway project.[4][6]

Phase 1 (Karak-Jabor, 2001-2004)

In order to resume the expressway project, the federal government decided to fund the expressway project themselves and once again approached MTD Group as the new concessionaire company for the East Coast Expressway. A letter of intention was sent by the federal government to MTD Group on 1 March 2000, and the new concession contract was signed on 17 January 2001.[5] MTD Group was chosen as the new concessionaire company for being able to offer the lowest construction cost for the expressway project.[3] The construction of the East Coast Expressway began shortly afterwards.

However, the construction of the expressway was only limited to the first phase from Karak to Kuantan, as the new state government of Terengganu led by Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) who took over the state from Barisan Nasional during the 1999 General Election, strongly opposed the toll collection of the expressway and insisted on building their own version of the East Coast Expressway without toll collection.[5] The abolishment of toll collection in Terengganu became the primary manifesto of PAS during the election. On the other hand, the Minister of Works at that time, Datuk Seri Samy Vellu insisted that toll collection was needed, claiming that the federal government could not afford to fully fund the East Coast Expressway without toll collection.[7] In the end, the construction of the Terengganu section by PAS state government ultimately did not materialise at all.

The East Coast Expressway Phase 1 from Karak to Kuantan was opened to motorists on 1 August 2004, with the total cost of RM1.3 billion, which was translated to RM7.5 million per kilometre.[8] The expressway was gazetted with the route number of E8, as a continuation of the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway E8/FT2. The second part of Phase 1, the Sri Jaya and Jabur was opened in on July 2007.

Phase 2 (Jabor-Kuala Terengganu, 2006-2015)

The East Coast Expressway Phase 2 extends the expressway to Kuala Terengganu, serving as the alternative for both Federal Route 3 and Jerangau-Jabor Highway FT14. The construction of the second phase of the East Coast Expressway E8 began in 2006 as a result of the Barisan Nasional takeover of Terengganu state government from PAS during the 2004 general election.[3][9] Unlike the first phase of the expressway where MTD Group became the only contractor (and concessionaire company), MTD was only allocated about 30% of the construction job for the second phase, from Bukit Besi to Telemung (Package 10), with the total length of 64 km.[10] The remaining 70% of the construction job was awarded to Bumiputra contractors, where 30% of the construction job was allocated to Terengganuan contractors and the remainder was allocated to non-Terengganuan contractors.[3] As a result, the section built by MTD Group was monitored by the Malaysian Highway Authority, while the remaining section was monitored by the Malaysian Public Works Department.

Unlike the first phase of the expressway where MTD Group managed to complete it on time despite of the huge flood in Pahang during the construction period, the second phase of the expressway had sparked a controversy due to numerous delays during the construction. Initially, the original deadline was set on May 2011;[11] however, the final deadline of the project completion was pushed to September 2014.[12] The price hike of construction materials such as bitumen and steel was primarily blamed for the delay, as the price hike had caused several contractors to withdraw from the project due to their inability to afford the increasing construction costs.[11][13][3] In addition, the Malaysian Public Accounts Committee (PAC) also claimed that the delay and the increase of construction costs was attributed to the change of the construction model from being a toll-free federal highway to a toll expressway.[13] Meanwhile, MTD Group claimed that the huge flood in Terengganu in 2009 that submerged some sections of the expressway had forced them to redesign the expressway, including the construction of higher viaducts in flood-prone areas, adding the construction costs further.[3]

On 7 April 2011, MTD Group's toll road divisions, MTD Prime Sdn. Bhd. and Metramac Corporation Sdn. Bhd., were spun off to form ANIH Berhad after officially taken over the operations of Toll Concession from both of the former concessionaire companies who respectively owned the concessions for Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway, East Coast Expressway Phase 1, and Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Expressway (including East–West Link Expressway), with effect from 6 December 2011.[14]

The second phase of the East Coast Expressway was opened in stages. The sections from Telemung to Kuala Terengganu and Ajil-Bukit Besi were the earliest sections being opened to motorists on 22 August 2011,[15] followed by Ajil-Telemung section on 18 May 2012,[16] Bukit Besi-Paka section on 25 January 2014,[17] and Jabor-Cheneh section on 22 July 2014.[18] When completed, the East Coast Expressway E8 Phase 2 will become a toll expressway that enjoys the longest toll-free period in Malaysia for 3 years.[19]

On 31 January 2015, all sections of the Jabur-Kuala Terengganu of the East Coast Expressway has now opened to traffic.[20] During toll free period at ECE2 (Terengganu section), motorists coming from Kuala Lumpur must exit the expressway at Jabor interchange, make a u-turn after paying toll and collect a transit card at Jabor toll plaza, which will be returned at the Jabor temporary toll plaza, in order to proceed to Kuala Terengganu. On the other hand, the ticket from the Jabor temporary toll plaza can be used within the entire length of the ECE1 E8.[21] On 20 April 2015, it was announced that PLUS Malaysia Berhad, the operator of the North-South Expressway, will be operating the second phase of the East Coast Expressway E8 starting from August 2015, making the East Coast Expressway E8 as the first expressway route in Malaysia to be operated by two different concessionaire. The toll rate of the second phase of the expressway will be pegged to the rate of the first phase.[22] On 7 July 2015, the Jabor temporary toll plaza was demolished to make way for the non-stop toll operation along the ECE2 E8 to avoid congestion caused by the temporary toll plaza.[23][24] The operation of the toll plazas along the ECE2 E8 is conducted temporarily by Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) themselves before being handed to PLUS Malaysia Berhad in August 2015.[24]

Major events

  • 14 December 2007 – The East Coast Expressway section from Karak to Lanchang was flooded.
  • 17 September 2009 – Motorists using the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway and the East Coast Expressway can drive toll free on September 18 and 24 from midnight to 5am during Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
  • 2 September 2010 – The Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway and the East Coast Expressway become toll-free from 9pm till 6am on September 7, 8, 15 and 16 during Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays.
  • 23 December 2014 – The section of the Temerloh-Chenor of the East Coast Expressway was flooded.

Sections

Phase 1 (Pahang): Karak - Jabur

File:MapLPT1 23082011.png
Map of East Coast Expressway Phase 1

The length of this phase is 174 km (108 mi) and runs from Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway through Lanchang, Mentakab, Temerloh, Chenor, Maran, Kuantan and ends at the Pahang - Terengganu border near Jabur. The turnkey contract was awarded to MTD Capital Bhd.

Phase 2 (Terengganu): Jabur - Kuala Nerus

File:MapLPT2 03022010.jpg
Map of East Coast Expressway Phase 2

The length of this phase is 185 km (115 mi) and will begin from Jabur, Chenih, Chukai, Kijal, Kerteh, Paka, Dungun, Bukit Besi, Ajil, Telemong until Kampung Gemuruh near Kuala Nerus.

The Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) manages the design and construction for two stretches of the East Coast Expressway. The first is from Jabur to Bukit Besi while the second from Telemong to Kuala Terengganu. The scope of work for JKR includes construction of 120 km of mainline expressway with:-

  • 7 interchanges and spur/ linkage roads
  • Rest Areas at 2 locations
  • 1 Layby area
  • 2 weighbridge stations

Other works include the signage and intelligent transport systems for the expressway.

However, in June 2009, the project was delayed due to withdrawal of two contractors for the projects as they were unable to afford the price of bitumen.[25]

The sections of the phase 2 of the expressway, Package 10 (Bukit Besi to Ajil), Package 11 and Package 12 (Telemung to Kuala Terengganu, including Bukit Payung-Telemung Highway) was opened to traffic on 22 August 2011.[15] The stretch between Ajil and Telemung in Package 11 opened on May 19, 2012.[26] The stretch between Bukit Besi and Paka was opened on January 25, 2014.The turnkey was arwarded to Lebuhraya Pantai Timur 2 Sdn.Bhd subsidiary PLUS Expressway Berhad subsidiary PLUS Mlaysia Berhad.

The next sections, Jabur to Chenih was opened to traffic on 22 July 2014 before Hari Raya Aidilfitri. On 21 November 2014, the stretches between Chenih to Kijal was opened to traffic.

On 31 January 2015, all sections of the Jabur-Kuala Terengganu of the East Coast Expressway has now opened to traffic.

Future sections

Phase 3 (Kelantan): Kuala Nerus - Kota Bharu

Phase 3 will connect from Kampung Gemuruh to Kota Bharu via Gua Musang Highway. Phase 3 will cover 124 kilometers. As of now the construction of this section is not started yet due to various reasons. The construction maybe start at early 2016.

Phase 4 (Pahang and Johor): Gambang -Johor Bahru

Phase 4 will connect from Gambang to Johor Bahru via Federal Road 3. Phase 4 will cover 250 kilometers. As of now the construction of this section is not started yet due to various reasons.

Features

  • Closed Toll System.
  • Two Lane Dual Carriageway .
  • 2 Rest and Service Areas (Temerloh and Gambang) on Phase 1.
    • 3 Rest and Service Areas (Perasing, Paka and Ajil) on Phase 2.
  • 3 Layby (Lanchang, Maran and Kuantan) on Phase 1.
    • 2 Layby (Kijal and Bukit Besi) on Phase 2.
  • 3 weighbridge stations (Temerloh, Gambang and Kuantan) on Phase 1.
    • 3 weighbridge stations (Kijal, Paka and Ajil) on Phase 2.
  • Perasing Rest and Service Area is the biggest Rest and Service Area on the ECE network. It is only accessible by the directional T interchange to R&R in which it is probably the only one of its type in Malaysia.
  • Special entry/exit lane for toll-free motorcycles.
  • Aesthetically Designed Bridges (Viaducts) in different locations along the Phase 2 in Terengganu.

Safety

Accident prone area along Phase 2 (Jabor-Kuala Terengganu)

Since it was opened to traffic on 2011, there are many accidents have occurred along East Coast Expressway Phase 2. The majority of accidents and fatalities on the new stretches of the expressway can be attributed to reckless or exhausted drivers, trespassing animals and damaged and water-logged roads. As such, the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and the Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) had also carried out preventive measures including increasing patrols, repairing damaged fences, installing barbed wire coils, cooperating with all related agencies to distribute leaflets on awareness and putting up sign boards in areas of intrusions by animals. LLM and JKR have also identified locations of water crossings and dangerous corners and will improve road surface and take suitable interventive measures with the cooperation of the Royal Malaysian Police, Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).[27]

Besides that. The Terengganu State Government will take prompt measures to curb fatal accidents on the East Coast Expressway Phase 2. Among the initiatives included the Malaysian Civil Defence Department teams will be stationed along the route. Other measures included putting up more signboards, asking the LLM to identify the high-risk areas and suggesting that police set up speed traps. The measures are to remind motorists to always exercise caution when using the expressway.

Tolls

The East Coast Expressway using ticket system (closed system) of tolling. Users collect transit cards 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).

Junction list

The entire expressway was built as a 4-lane divided expressway with two lanes for each carriageways. The speed limit for the entire expressway is 110 km/h except at Exit 813B Karak Interchange (90 km/h) and Karak Toll Plaza (60 km/h).

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State District km Exit Name Destinations Notes
Through to E8 2 Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway
Pahang Bentong 77.8 813 Karak I/C 2 Jalan Kuantan–Kuala Lumpur – Karak, Kuala Pilah Westbound exit, eastbound entrance only
Western terminus of concurrency with AH141
Karak Toll Plaza (west end of barrier system)
Temerloh 89.9–
90.1		 Lanchang layby (both directions; separated)
99.8 816 Lanchang I/C 236 Jalan Lanchang – Lanchang, FELDA Mempaga, Raub, Kuala Lipis
KTM East Coast Line bridge
126.4 819 Temerloh I/C 98 Federal Route 98 – Temerloh, Mentakab, Jerantut, Bera
– – Jkr-ft--.png Jalan Tebing Tinggi – Kampung Tebing Tinggi, Temerloh, Kampung Paya Jejawi, Sanggang Motorcycles only
Westbound exit, eastbound entrance only
Sultan Ahmad Shah II Bridge over the Pahang River
– – Jkr-ft--.png Jalan Kampung Seberang – Kampung Sanggang Seberang, Batu Sawar, Rantau Makmur Motorcycles only
Eastbound exit, westbound entrance only
Temerloh rest and service area (both directions; separated)
Maran 821 Chenor I/C 83 Federal Route 83 – Bandar Pusat Jengka, Kampung Awah, Chenor
Maran layby (both directions; separated)
173.8 825 Maran I/C 2 Jalan Kuantan–Kuala Lumpur – Maran
827 Sri Jaya I/C 2 Jalan Kuantan–Kuala Lumpur – Sri Jaya, Belimbing
Kuantan Gambang rest and service area (both directions; separated)
830 Gambang I/C 222 MEC Highway – Bandar MEC, Gambang, Pekan, Segamat Serves Universiti Malaysia Pahang
Planned interchange to phase 4
Kuantan layby (both directions; separated)
Kuantan River bridge
238.4 833 Kuantan I/C 231 Jalan Sungai Lembing – Kuantan, Bandar Indera Mahkota, (Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport)
Terengganu Kemaman 836 Jabur I/C 101 Gebeng Bypass – Aspa Cottage, Gebeng, Beserah Eastern terminus of concurrency with AH141
Perasing rest and service area (both directions; combined)
839 Chenih I/C 14 Jerangau–Jabor Highway – Bandar Chenih Baharu, Bandar Cerul
Kemaman River bridge
841 Chukai I/C 237 Federal Route 237 – Chukai, Air Putih
Kijal layby (both directions; separated)
845 Kijal I/C 124 Federal Route 124 – Bandar Sri Bandi, Kijal, Kemasik, Kemaman Port
847 Kerteh I/C Jkr-ft--.png Jalan Nyior Cabang – Kemasik, Kerteh, (Kerteh Airport)
Dungun 849 Paka I/C 122 Federal Route 122 – Paka, Bandar Ketengah Jaya, Bandar Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
Paka rest and service area (both directions; separated)
851 Kuala Dungun I/C Jkr-ft--.png Jalan Durian Mentangau – Kuala Dungun, Durian Mentangau, Lubuk Pauh
365.5 853 Bukit Besi I/C 132 Federal Route 132 – Bukit Besi, Bandar Al-Muktafi Billah Shah, Jerangau
Bukit Besi layby (both directions; separated)
Hulu Terengganu 403.7 858 Ajil I/C 106 Jalan Ajil–Kuala Berang – Ajil, Wakaf Tapai, Kuala Berang, Jerangau
Terengganu River bridge
Ajil rest and service area (both directions; separated)
423.2 862 Telemong I/C Bukit Payung–Telemung Highway – Kuala Telemong, Bukit Payung, Bandar Marang, Gua Musang
Kuala Nerus 867 Kuala Terengganu I/C 3 Jalan Kuala Terengganu–Kota Bharu – Kota Bharu, Jerteh, Bandar Permaisuri, Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu, (Sultan Mahmud Airport)
Planned throughway to phase 3
1.000 km = 0.621 mi; 1.000 mi = 1.609 km
I/C - interchange, I/S - intersection
East Coast Expressway Phase 2 Maps

See also

References

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  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Media statement from Malaysian Highway Authority - Accessed on 2015-07-09.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Human factor main cause of accidents on East Coast Expressway P2, says LLM - Accessed on 2015-06-22.

External links

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