Measuring 24.4 km in length from Sri Petaling to Ulu Kelang, the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) represents the next generation of Malaysia’s expressways when it is launched soon.
Set to be an iconic elevated highway in Malaysia when completed, the expressway features a 56.4-metre-tall segmental box girder bridge – the highest superstructure ever built in the Klang Valley. The elevated bridge, which spans the Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT Line and the Cheras-Kajang Expressway (Grand Saga), has already earned a place in the Malaysia Book of Records.
That’s not the only record awarded to SUKE, as the other is the country’s first helicoidal (spiralled) ramp located near the Cheras-Kajang interchange. The unique section of the expressway also received the Malaysian Highway Authority’s (LLM) Dynamic Highway Design recognition.
With these features, motorists will be able to enjoy a memorable driving experience while using SUKE, but there’s also something for architecture fans. Another unique feature of SUKE, which has 90% of its route elevated, is the bifurcated (split) structure design that allows sunlight to penetrate through to the Ampang River, with a linear park located under the highway structure that has a 1.6-km walking/jogging trail.
Of course, the main purpose of a highway is to promote connectivity, and SUKE delivers as there are 14 dedicated interchanges along its route at Sri Petaling, Sungai Besi, Alam Damai, Cheras-Kajang, Cheras-Hartamas, Bukit Teratai, Tasik Tambahan, Permai, Kosas, Pekan Ampang, Ampang Point, Ulu Kelang, Hillview and Bukit Antarabangsa.
SUKE also connects to a ring of existing networked highways, running parallel to the Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS) and Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2). The expressway is also linked to the Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Highway (KL-Seremban), Sungai Besi Expressway (BESRAYA), Grand Saga, Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH) and Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE).
Besides providing motorists with greater travelling alternatives, SUKE will also help reduce congestion along MRR2 by 30%, Jalan Ampang by 36% and Jalan Loke Yew by 12% during peak hours. This is thanks to its three-lane dual carriageway design, with each lane measuring 3.5 metres wide to handle the large volume of vehicles expected.
Other features of SUKE are two lay-by areas, a single rest and service (R&S) area at Tasik Tambahan as well as three toll plazas, which includes the tallest multi-tier toll plaza complex in the country. This will be located on a double-deck structure at Alam Damai, with other toll plazas being at Bukit Teratai and Ampang. With more motorists switching to electric vehicles (EVs) in Malaysia, SUKE will also feature six EV charging stations along its route to support users of zero-emission vehicles.
“Completion and the opening of SUKE will have a profound impact on efforts to alleviate congestion and improve traffic flow, particularly in the eastern part of Kuala Lumpur,” said Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings (PROLINTAS) group CEO Datuk Mohammad Azlan Abdullah.
“It will provide motorists with greater travelling alternatives, seamless connectivity and better accessibility especially at the 14 dedicated interchanges along the SUKE route,” he added. PROLINTAS’ subsidiary, Projek Lintasan Sungai Besi Ulu Klang, is responsible for building SUKE, with construction of the RM5.7 billion project beginning in 2016.
Safety is another important consideration of the expressway, and the route will feature a three-metre-wide emergency lane in addition to the three regular lanes. There will also 40 CCTV units along the route, with each being installed on an integrated pole that houses the CCTV system, an emergency telephone and a vehicle detection sensor – this makes up part of the traffic control and surveillance system.
To minimise the expressway’s impact on the environment and promote sustainability, SUKE is built and certified with the Green Building Index (GBI) green rating system. Besides solar panels, the expressway has a rainwater harvesting system and low e-glass panels to minimise the amount of infrared and ultraviolet light from entering its multi-tier Alam Damai toll plaza.
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There was a study conducted that even with 7 lanes freeway, LA is still congested like crazy…
Believe similar situation will be for KV
You are right, Albert. All a highway does is moves the traffic along to another area where the roads are poorly planned and sends the jam there.
Jams occur for many reasons, most typically we say it is volume of cars. But consider the people who stop or park their vehicles indiscriminately, those who cut lanes at chevrons or traffic lights (causing a backlog on a lane meant to be free for an alternate direction), roads that merge illogically (NKVE exit Subang and Damansara are famous for this).
The solution is not merely freeways; proper road and town planning, including public transport planning, driver behaviour (as per comments above AND car maintenance culture as a broken down car also causes snarls). Malaysia is so far behind in this.
Tak nak bayar toll laa
Minyak murah bangat
Cant be helped.New car sales 650,000 units.Used car sales 450-500,000 units this year.
So,annually 1.1 to 1.2 million vehicles added nationwide,the bulk of which is from greater Klang valley area.
More expressways just buy the planners more time.
Unless the planners start charging vehicles going into Central Business District(like our southern neighbour)n forcing more people to carpool.
You can count in used car sales since it’s already on the road, only changing owners.
You can’t count…..
no lah. cannot count that way. used car was once new car plus some cars discommissioned too.
Just one more highway and it will fix traffic. I am sure just one more highway will fix traffic. Just one more…
Suke alignment coulda easily been the next MRT line if we hadn’t kicked down and later thrown into jail our eminent Father of Public Transportation; Bapak Najib. So sad to see more highways instead of public transports.
Everytime they build a highway on highways already built. It causes years of lane closure snd suffering traffic jams. No more new highways please.
The duke highway phase two toll is RM3.5 from melati to setiawangsa. Maybe RM7 when its fully completed for entire route one way.
How much will the toll rates be for SUKE?
Aiya 3.5 can’t even buy a plate of nasi campur nowadays. And.. nobody force you to use also
Benjo dapat tak?
Yusof, this project affects us heavily as Kuala Lumpur’s citizens, whether we want it or not. Why can’t we voice out our complaints if we want to? Even if I’m not using it, the giant redundant unnecessary highway breaks my city already.
There isn’t anyway we can voice out, the general hotline is set as illusion. For fun only. And the freaking government don’t care.
Cuba tanya gomen PH yang luluskan SUKE tu.
2 words
induced demand
a.k.a this is not a solution
Exactly. We’ve been building roads for 100 years plus and not once, anywhere in the world has building roads eased congestion in the medium to long term. This is old fashioned planning. Invest the money in better public transport.
Copy paste: “Suke alignment coulda easily been the next MRT line if we hadn’t kicked down and later thrown into jail our eminent Father of Public Transportation; Bapak Najib. So sad to see more highways instead of public transports.”
Even with it done, people still choose freeway for alternative. Highway is expensive if you commute daily and usually longer distance compare freeway.
Once you’re stuck for the longest time in the freeway, you’re going to use that expensive expressway.
yes it will help but not much, in malaysia always built road after house/building complete. this is why a lots of land wasted. dont have proper planning, causing so many jalan/lorong. should built the road first then split the land area for housing/building.
From Suka to Duka, from Duka to Suka. SUKE-DUKE DUKE-SUKE
I just want to know when it will be open?
All the stories do not mention any opening date. I come here to read the article expecting for opening date!
Earliest would be Q3 – Q4 next year. Most of the elevated highway is completed but the sections after Bukit Jalil is still under constructed and will take a lot of time to complete so don’t hold your breath. Source? I worked in this project (Bukit Jalil to KL seremban CA1)
16 Sep? Msia day. A week FOC
Exactly! Talk 3 talk 4 also no opening date given! Misleading headline
When is it opening? Come up guys, “soon” is relative. 6 months? 9 months from now?
How can it b ready soon when d section from tbs till sri petaling is still nothing up there
Phase 1
Partial opening
Like the littoral combat ship?
Syukur, less traffic jam.
Buses route hope to include this route too?
traffic jam caused by highway construction,
Meanwhile, for those living in Selayang/Rawang still need to use the infamous Jalan Rawang / Jalan Kuching to go to work in KL. So saddd…..
It will be a long time nore to come as the sectio in Tmn Len Seng and Alam Damai section is still underconstruction, the time of one more year can be expected for construction to complete.
Opening soon?? Sort of fake news
The 1st section of SUKE is scheduled to be opened for use on 16th Sept, 2022 connecting Cheras to Ampang (before Alam Damai) as the latter part is not ready. No information on when is the 2nd section (connecting to Bkt Jalil) will be opened for public use.
“….allows sunlight to penetrate through to the Ampang River, with a linear park located under the highway structure that has a 1.6-km walking/jogging trail.”
That linear is nicely built along the river but unfortunately rampant motorcyclist use it for shortcut. Birdbrain riders.
For all those big numbers and ‘success’, only 1.6 km for the real local citizens? Didn’t they say that 90% of the route is elevated so why not make it at least half of the route? So what, other than that 1.6 km little pet project, underneath the highway is just a barren side of the city la?
Opening soon like GE coming soon.
Seri Petaling- Cheras still under construction. Beams not even up yet. Especially the infamous double decker section from ucsi to Cheras sentral.
Last I heard, the contractors are dragging their feet because last few month’s payment still “coming soon”.
From Suka to Duka, from Duka to Suka. SUKE-DUKE DUKE-SUKE
(copy paste from Sahak)
The exit to Kajang has traffic lights. Great job to the planner