KL-Karak expansion on track for early 2029 completion, says Nanta

The Malaysian government's RM2.1 billion Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway (KLK) expansion project, which includes a 999-metre tunnel in Genting Sempah, is on track to be finished before its 2030 deadline, Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi announced. The 45.3km expansion project, set to be completed by March 8, 2030, aims to alleviate the substantial increase in traffic, which has more than tripled from 41,000 vehicles per day in 1997 to approximately 135,000 today.

Nanta emphasized the strategic importance of the project, stating that it would enhance safety and convenience for motorists traveling between the Klang Valley and the east coast. The works, which began in March 2026, involve widening the expressway from two lanes to three lanes in both directions and constructing a new tunnel. The new tunnel, built using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), will coexist with the existing westbound and eastbound tunnels.

Nanta highlighted the government's commitment to improving road safety, noting that the Cabinet committee on road safety recently discussed strategies to reduce accidents and fatalities. The Works Minister also stressed the importance of digital technology and artificial intelligence to improve road construction and maintenance efficiency while managing financial resources.