LLM Expects 3.27 Million Vehicles This CNY

Motorists heading out for Chinese New Year celebrations are advised to prepare for heavy congestion, as the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) expects traffic volume on major highways nationwide to peak at 3.27 million vehicles.

LLM said traffic is expected to start building up as early as Friday, February 13, especially for those travelling north, south, and towards the East Coast. The heaviest congestion is projected on the first and second day of Chinese New Year, when traffic is expected to reach its highest levels.

"Highways operated by PLUS Malaysia are expected to carry the bulk of the traffic, with an estimated 2.2 million vehicles

"Other major routes are also expected to see sharp increases, including the KL-Karak Expressway with around 210,000 vehicles, East Coast Expressway Phase 1 (LPT1) with 90,000 vehicles, LPT2 with 40,000 vehicles, and the West Coast Expressway (WCE) with approximately 160,000 vehicles," it said in a statement.

Connecting highways leading to these main routes will also experience heavy traffic, with DUKE expected to handle 275,000 vehicles, LATAR about 145,000, and LEKAS around 150,000 vehicles.

To manage the festive rush, LLM has directed all highway concessionaires to ensure smooth and safe travel throughout the period. From February 12 to February 23, all highway lanes will remain open, with no planned closures except for emergency works. 

SmartLanes will be activated at 32 locations along the PLUS Expressway to help ease congestion during peak hours. Toll operators have also been instructed to ensure toll collection systems remain fully functional.

LLM is advising road users to plan their journeys early by referring to the Travel Time Advisory (TTA) and using the LLM TuJu Highway Navigation App, particularly for the North-South Expressway, KL-Karak Expressway, and LPT1.

Real-time traffic updates will also be shared on LLM’s official X and TikTok accounts, while assistance is available via the LLM Traffic Management Centre at 1-800-88-7752.