Cheras–Kajang Expressway

The Cheras-Kajang Expressway (CKE, Cheras–Kajang Expressway) is a Malaysian expressway that links the incorporated townshp of Cheras, Kuala Lumpur to the town of Kajang in Selangor.

Background and History

The expressway is part of a major expansion of Jalan Cheras (Cheras Road), also known as Federal route FT 1, which consisted of a two-lane intercity road between Kajang and Cheras. Construction of the expressway commenced in late 1998 and, at a cost of RM275 million, was completed and began tolling on January 15, 1999. Having assumed a new name, the "Cheras–Kajang Expressway", and incorporated the mid-length of the original road into the expressway, the expressway consequently bisected Jalan Cheras into two at both ends of the original road: one at Kajang, and the other at Cheras, while remnants of the road's undeveloped routes between remain partially in use.

The Cheras–Kajang Expressway is among the first four-lane dual carriageway in Malaysia, stretching from the Connaught Interchange in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur to Saujana Impian in Kajang. The expressway comprises one rest and service area and nine interchanges: "Pasukan Gerakan Am", "Hulu Langat", "Telekom", "Bandar Tun Hussein Onn", "Balakong", "Sungai Long", "Bukit Dukong", "Sungai Balak" and "Saujana Impian". The expressway has receive substantial volumes of traffic to and from linked localities. Between 2003 and 2004 alone, traffic volume increased 4%, with an average of 187,000 vehicles per day utillising the expressway in the financial year of 2004.

The expressway formerly featured its own electronic toll collection system, known as the Saga Tag. Beginning 1 July 2004, however, the Saga Tag was replaced by Touch 'n Go and Smart TAG systems.

Of the RM275 million used to finance the expressway's construction, RM210 million consisted of bonds issued by Grand Saga Private Limited, the expressway's concessionaire, and RM59 million was support loan from the government. Grand Saga was further provided compensation from the government for revisions of scheduled toll rate hikes. In 2003 and 2004, the government paid RM104.93 million in compensation, exclusive of waiving interest and repayment of the support loan. The government also extended the expressway's concession by two years to September 18, 2027 in 2002.

Controversy

Bandar Mahkota Cheras exit

Main article: Bandar Mahkota Cheras toll dispute

During the construction of the Bandar Mahkota Cheras, an access road connecting the new township and the Bandar Tun Hussein Onn Interchange (Template:MES-EXIT) was built by the developer to provide access to Bandar Mahkota Cheras from Cheras - Kajang Expressway and vice-versa. However, the link road was closed in 2005 by Grand Saga under the direction of the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) due to disputes between Grand Saga and the developer of Bandar Mahkota Cheras on compensations since the link road would allow motorists to bypass the Mile 11 toll plaza on the expressway. As a result, residents travelling to Kuala Lumpur are required to enter the expressway via Bandar Sungai Long or vice-versa, while having to pay fares for both the Batu 9 and Batu 11 toll plaza.

Following Opposition control of Selangor in the 2008 election, local residents dismantled the barricades, temporarily allowing traffic to and from the township to directly enter and exit the expressway. In an early attempt, Grand Saga forcefully reclosed the road. However, On 27 June 2008, the barrier was torn down once again.

On 4 June 2008, the Malaysian Highway Authority and Grand Saga were ordered to install traffic lights on the junctions of Bandar Mahkota Cheras to ease the traffic flow of the residents.

Toll rates

(Starting 1 January 2007)

Batu 9 toll plaza

Class	Type of vehicles	Rate (in Malaysian Ringgit (RM))
0	Motorcycles, bicycles or vehicles with 2 or less wheels	Free
1	Vehicles with 2 axles and 3 or 4 wheels excluding taxis	RM1.00
2	Vehicles with 2 axles and 5 or 6 wheels excluding buses	RM2.00
3	Vehicles with 3 or more axles	RM2.00
4	Taxis	RM0.50
5	Buses	RM1.00

Batu 11 toll plaza

Class	Type of vehicles	Rate (in Malaysian Ringgit (RM))
0	Motorcycles, bicycles or vehicles with 2 or less wheels	Free
1	Vehicles with 2 axles and 3 or 4 wheels excluding taxis	RM0.90
2	Vehicles with 2 axles and 5 or 6 wheels excluding buses	RM1.80
3	Vehicles with 3 or more axles	RM1.80
4	Taxis	RM0.50
5	Buses	RM0.90

(Source: Utusan Malaysia, 15 December 2006)

Interchanges

Km	Exit	Interchange	To	Remarks
Cheras–Kajang Expressway 0			NORTH FT 1CHERAS HIGHWAY Kuala Lumpur Cheras Petaling Jaya Shah Alam Klang
FT 1 CHERAS HIGHWAY DBKL border limit
Cheras–Kajang Expressway FT 1 CHERAS-KAJANG EXPRESSWAY Grand Saga border limit
		Plaza Phoenix	Plaza Phoenix	Kuala Lumpur bound
		Perhilitan	Perhilitan central branch	Kajang bound
Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
FT Kuala Lumpur-Selangor border
Selangor Darul Ehsan Hulu Langat district border
	Template:MES-EXIT	PGA INTERCHANGE	Pasukan Gerakan Am (PGA) Base	Trumpet interchange
Batu 9 toll plaza Touch 'n Go SmartTAG SmartTAG Touch 'n Go Opened toll system Pay toll
		Batu 9 toll plaza		South bound
	Template:MES-EXIT	HULU LANGAT INTERCHANGE	FT 1Pekan Batu 9 Cheras B52Hulu Langat B52Sungai Pangsoon B52Sungai Congkak waterfall B52Sungai Gabai waterfall B52Sungai Tekali waterfall	Trumpet interchange
	Template:MES-EXIT	TELEKOM INTERCHANGE	Taman Sri Cheras Taman Megah	Diamond interchange
	Template:MES-EXIT	BANDAR TUN HUSSEIN ONN INTERCHANGE	Bandar Tun Hussein Onn Bandar Mahkota Cheras	Diamond interchange
		Batu 11 toll plaza	Grand Saga operation office	North bound
Batu 11 toll plaza Touch 'n Go SmartTAG SmartTAG Touch 'n Go Opened toll system Pay toll
	Template:MES-EXIT	BALAKONG INTERCHANGE	B51Balakong Kajang Dispersal Link ExpresswayKAJANG DISPERSIAL LINK EXPRESSWAY Mines Resort City Seri Kembangan Sungai Besi	Half diamond interchange
	Template:MES-EXIT	SUNGAI LONG INTERCHANGE	Bandar Sungai Long Bandar Mahkota Cheras	Half diamond interchange
		Bukit Dukung rest and service area	Template:BH Petrol signs	North bound
Cheras–Kajang Expressway FT 1 CHERAS-KAJANG EXPRESSWAY
	Template:MES-EXIT	BUKIT DUKUNG INTERCHANGE	SOUTHEAST FT 1 JALAN CHERAS-KAJANG	Interchange
Cheras–Kajang Expressway CHERAS-KAJANG EXPRESSWAY
	Template:MES-EXIT	SUNGAI BALAK INTERCHANGE	SOUTHWEST Kajang Dispersal Link ExpresswayKAJANG DISPERSIAL LINK EXPRESSWAY Sungai Chua Putrajaya Cyberjaya Puchong Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)	Trumpet interchange
	Template:MES-EXIT	SAUJANA IMPIAN INTERCHANGE	FT 1 JALAN CHERAS-KAJANG SOUTH FT 1 Kajang town centre B17 Bangi	Diamond interchange
Cheras–Kajang ExpresswayCHERAS-KAJANG EXPRESSWAY Start/End of expressway Grand Saga border limit
KAJANG BYPASS JKR border limit
			SOUTHEAST KAJANG BYPASS Saujana Impian Semenyih Seremban

External links

• Official Grand Saga website