KUALA LUMPUR – Want to halve the driving time from Changkat Jering to Beruas in Perak? You can, starting at midnight, as the West Coast Expressway (WCE) opens Section 11.
During the launch, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi also announced a toll exemption for two months effective 12.01am, for drivers entering and exiting the Taiping Selatan, Trong and Beruas toll plazas.
“Thank you to the concessionaire and the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) for agreeing to the toll exemption for two months, which cost RM422 million. After this, the toll rate charged is 16 sen per kilometre.
“This opening is timely as an alternative route considering that we will celebrate Ramadan tomorrow and Aidilfitri soon.”
He added that motorists entering WCE from Lekir, Sitiawan, Sitiawan Utara and Changkat Cermin toll plazas will have to pay the regular toll rate.
Section 11’s 35.5km stretch provides direct connectivity for road users from the North-South Expressway in Changkat Jering to Beruas, Perak, reducing travel time to 20 minutes compared to 55 minutes via the existing route.
It also serves as an alternative to the North-South Expressway and reduces congestion, especially during peak hours, festive seasons, and school holidays.
The section provides easier access for users to tourist destinations in Perak, such as Taiping Zoo, Taiping Lake Gardens, Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, Perak Museum, Remis Beach, and Pangkor Island.
This year, the state is also running the Visit Perak 2024 campaign and celebrating the 150th anniversary of Taiping.
The WCE is a highway connecting Changkat Jering, Perak, to Banting, Selangor, spanning 314.5km through Beruas, Sri Manjung, Sitiawan, Teluk Intan, Bagan Datuk, Hutan Melintang in Perak, and Sabak Bernam, Tg Karang, Kuala Selangor, Klang, Shah Alam, and Banting in Selangor. – March 11, 2024