{
  "id": 1396461,
  "title": "North-South Expressway needs a revamp",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/north-south-expressway-needs-a-revamp-1396461",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-17T01:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2026/08/17/north-south-expressway-needs-a-revamp"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Upon traveling the North-South Expressway (NSE) to Ipoh, a concerning observation was made regarding the traffic conditions and the highway's ability to meet current needs. The expressway, once a four-lane marvel from Jalan Duta to the Rawang interchange, now faces challenges in managing the heavy traffic it experiences. Lorries and buses occupy the first two lanes, while cars dominate the other two. However, the concessionaire PLUS has implemented lane usage and speed advisory signs, assigning the first two lanes for all vehicles at a minimum speed of 60 kph, the third lane for cars at 80 kph, and the fourth for cars at 100 kph.\n\nThe lane-use and speed guidelines, jointly developed by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, Malaysian Highway Authority, PLUS, and SKVE Holdings Sdn Bhd, offer a potential solution. Nevertheless, the real issue lies in the need for stricter regulation of traffic behavior to make these guidelines effective and safe for all road users.\n\nAt the Rawang interchange, where the four-lane configuration narrows to three lanes under the NSE, the issue becomes more apparent. Heavy traffic congestion at this section suggests the expressway has reached its practical capacity without the fourth lane. Cars share all three lanes, with heavy vehicles dominating the first two. The problem intensifies when a lorry overtakes another, forcing cars to merge into the third lane at high speeds, increasing the risk of accidents.\n\nBeyond Trolak, the NSE reverts to a two-lane expressway, a configuration designed over three decades ago when traffic volumes and vehicle mixes were vastly different. The current two-lane configuration, with heavy lorries and buses on the first lane and fast cars on the second, creates recurring bottlenecks. Motorists have to endure long waits to overtake slow-moving heavy vehicles when the second lane is already congested. The two-lane expressway thus becomes a significant weak point, unable to handle today's traffic demand.\n\nThe question arises: why are important sections of the main north-south transport corridor still operating with the same capacity they were built for more than 30 years? The NSE now carries substantial freight, bus, and commercial traffic due to the growth of manufacturing, distribution, e-commerce, and interstate movements. The lack of a comprehensive capacity and safety review based on current and projected demands over the next 10 to 30 years is evident. Rest and service areas, vital for accommodating the increased traffic, have not kept pace with the growing demand, resulting in overcrowded facilities that pose a safety risk.",
  "summary": "When traffic demand exceeds the road capacity, telling motorists to drive better is not a solution.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}