CNY 2024: LLM Anticipates 2.4 Million Vehicles On Major Highways

In light of the upcoming festive Chinese New Year holidays, the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) welcomes the government's decision to implement toll-free measures. This exemption applies exclusively to Class 1 vehicles (private vehicles) starting from Feb 8, 2024 at midnight (12AM), and lasting unitil 11:59PM on Feb 9, 2024.

This applies unto all toll plazas, with the exception of the Sultan Iskandar Building Toll Plaza (BSI) on the North-South Expressway, and the Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza on the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link Expressway (LINKEDUA).

LLM anticipates a surge in traffic volume on highways leading towards the East Coast, North, and South beginning as early as Thursday, Feb 8, 2024. The board’s projection indicates up to 2.4 million vehicles will utilise these highways daily during this time. Out of this total, 1.5 million vehicles alone are expected to traverse the North-South Expressway (PLUS).

Additionally, up to 199,000 vehicles are expected on the KL-Karak Highway, whilst 106,000 vehicles are predicted on the East Coast Highway Phase 1, and 61,000 vehicles on the East Coast Highway Phase 2.

To better manage this surge, LLM has instructed highway concessionaires to implement set measures as below:

• Prohibition of any highway lane closures except for emergencies from Feb 5, 2024, to Feb 14, 2024.
• Activation of 'smart lanes' on the PLUS Expressway and 'tidal flow lanes' on the KL-Karak Highway.
• Maintenance of highway operations and facilities, especially at R&Rs and Lay-bys, to ensure the comfort and safety of users.
• Ensuring proper functioning of toll collection systems to prevent congestion at toll plazas, along with temporary toll lane additions at high-traffic toll plazas.
• Provision of additional parking and mobile toilet facilities at various R&R’s along major highways.

LLM also advises highway users to plan their journeys using the MyPLUS-TTA app for the North-South Expressway and the Travel Time Advisory (TTA) app for other highways. They should ensure vehicle readiness, maintain sufficient balance in Touch ‘n Go cards and e-wallets, activate 'pay wave' on debit or credit cards if opting to utilise the Open Payment Toll Collection System.

Furthermore, highway users are also advised to utilise the emergency lanes as alternative routes during congestion when the 'smart lanes' are activated.