Ever since the East Coast Expressway (LPT2) was opened in 2015, providing a fast and smooth highway link from the Klang Valley to Kuala Terengganu, many people have found it preferable to drive to the East Coast than use the bus. Prior to the LPT2 being available, the highway link was only up to Karak and the rest of the way was on winding roads which limited speeds and a journey would take many hours.
As a result, traffic volumes have been increasing over the past 4 years and it is common for congestion to occur from the Bentong toll plaza all the way to the toll plaza at Gombak. Naturally, it doesn’t help that the terrain is undulating with slopes causing traffic to slow down further. Fortunately, heavy commercial vehicles will not be allowed to use the highway on January 23rd/24th and 27th/28th.
ANIH Berhad, the concessionaire which maintains the 60-km highway from the Gombak toll plaza to the Bentong toll plaza offers suggestions on the best times to travel during the Chinese New Year period. It notes that the express buses heading to destinations on the East Coast enter the highway during two periods of the day – between 9:30 am and noon and 9:30 pm and midnight. Therefore, motorists are advised not to also start their journeys during these periods.
The chart below shows the suggested times for travel to the East Coast on January 23rd – 25th (Thursday to Saturday), and then if returning on the 26th or 27th (Sunday or Monday).
Travelling between midnight and 6 am would be congestion-free but be sure you are up to it and have had sufficient rest to remain awake and alert! If you are drowsy, pull over at a R&R and have a nap rather than struggle to continue. There is the danger of what is known as ‘microsleep’ where you doze off suddenly and you would no longer control the car – and an accident could occur.
ANIH Berhad also reminds motorists to ensure that their Touch ‘n Go and RFID e-Wallets have sufficient balance for the toll payable. Reloads can usually be done at the Gombak and Bentong Toll Plaza Customer Service Centres from 7 am – 10 pm but between January 23rd and 27th, reloads will not be available at the toll plaza booths.
