Is widening the KL-Karak Highway the way to go?

 

From Wan Agyl Wan Hassan

The RM2.1 billion project to widen the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway (KLK) has been touted as a solution to the traffic woes that plague one of Malaysia’s busiest routes, especially during festive seasons and weekends.

The objective of the project, work on which is set to begin in January 2025, is to ease congestion and enhance the driving experience.

But as we embark on this major project, we must ask ourselves: Are we truly addressing the root of the problem, or merely postponing it?

Anyone who has driven on the KL-Karak Highway during a long weekend knows how painful the experience can be.

With everyone trying to leave the city at the same time, traffic often slows down to a snail’s pace.

On the surface, adding more lanes seems like a straightforward solution — more space should mean less congestion, right?

However, history has shown that this isn’t always the case. The concept of induced demand — where more lanes attract more cars — suggests that these new lanes will offer only temporary relief.

As more people perceive the highway as less congested, they’re more likely to drive, eventually bringing us back to square one.

With our vehicle ownership rate climbing, we could be facing heavy traffic once again before long.

This raises the question: Will the RM2.1 billion investment provide a meaningful, long-term solution?

Another factor we need to consider is the timeline. This project is expected to take four years, finishing around 2029.

During this time, large sections of the highway will be under construction, which could worsen congestion before things improve.

Even with construction done off-peak hours, delays and bottlenecks are unavoidable.

Are we prepared to endure years of traffic headaches for a solution that may not even hold up in the long term?

The price tag of RM2.1 billion is not insignificant. It’s taxpayer money, and we need to ensure it delivers real, lasting benefits.

Unfortunately, the government has yet to provide a clear picture of how long widening the highway will ease traffic flow before another upgrade is needed.

Considering how quickly traffic is growing, we may require yet another expansion sooner than we expect, raising doubts about whether this is the best use of such a substantial sum of money.

What if we could make our current roads more efficient without spending billions on expansion?

Multi-lane free flow (MLFF) tolling could be the answer. Imagine driving through a toll plaza without stopping or even slowing down — no more queues, no more jams at toll booths.

This technology is already being used successfully in places like Singapore.

Piloting MLFF on the KL-Karak Highway could give us a real-world test of how well it works here, allowing us to gather valuable insights for a broader rollout across the country.

Given its heavy traffic and strategic importance, the KL-Karak Highway would be an ideal starting point.

Yet, instead of exploring this modern solution, we seem stuck in the mindset of simply adding more lanes.

Another part of the solution lies in better public transit.

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), for example, is a step in the right direction. Trains can move a lot more people than cars, and they can do it more efficiently over long distances.

But we need more than just railways — we need to integrate multi-modal transport solutions that make it easy for people to leave their cars at home.

If the KL-Karak corridor had better park-and-ride facilities, bus lanes and public transport options, people might choose it over driving.

Relying only on road expansions keeps us stuck in a cycle of car dependency, but investing in public transport could help break that cycle.

There’s also the environmental impact.

More lanes means more construction, more vehicles and more emissions.

Expanding a highway without considering sustainability is short-sighted in today’s context, where the world is increasingly focused on reducing carbon footprints.

We should look at ways to make the highway greener, such as planting trees along the route and offsetting environmental impacts.

The widening of the KL-Karak Highway is a well-meaning attempt to tackle immediate traffic issues, but it falls short of offering a lasting solution.

Adding lanes may help with congestion for a while, but it doesn’t solve the root cause — our over-reliance on cars and the lack of convenient public transport.

Instead of focusing all our energy (and money) on just expanding roads, why not take this opportunity to innovate?

Piloting MLFF tolling could make the highway more efficient without the need for constant widening.

Combined with a robust public transit strategy and focus on sustainability, we could create a more resilient way forward.

Ultimately, the KL-Karak Highway project should be part of a broader vision — one that encourages greener, more efficient ways to travel.

The decisions we make today will shape how Malaysians move tomorrow.

Let’s make sure those decisions lead us toward a sustainable, people-friendly future. - FMT

Wan Agyl Wan Hassan is the founder of MY Mobility Vision, a transport think tank by Agyl & Partners. He is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.