Second East–West Highway

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Federal Route 185

Second East–West Highway
(Simpang Pulai–Kuala Berang Highway)
Second East–West Highway - Terengganu (2).jpg
Route information
Length313.6 km (194.9 mi)
Existed2001–present
HistoryCompleted in 2004
Major junctions
West endSimpang Pulai, Perak
Major intersections FT 3150 Jalan Lahat–Simpang Pulai
FT 1
FT 59
FT 8
FT 247
Bukit Payung–Telemung Highway
East endKuala Jeneris, Terengganu
Location
CountryMalaysia
StatesPerak, Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu
Primary
destinations
Ipoh
Cameron Highlands
Kota Bharu
Kuala Lipis
Gua Musang
Kenyir Lake
Kuala Terengganu
Highway system

Second East–West Highway (Malay: Lebuhraya Timur–Barat Kedua), also known as Simpang Pulai–Kuala Berang Highway, Federal Route 185 and Federal Route 36, is a highway in Peninsular Malaysia which connects Simpang Pulai in Perak to Kuala Jeneris in Terengganu.[1] It overlaps with Federal Route 8 Federal Route 8 between Gua Musang and Sungai Relau. It is notorious for its many sharp corners which increase the risk of road accidents.

Route background

The Kilometre Zero of the Federal Route 185 is located at Simpang Pulai, Perak, at its junctions with the Federal Route 1, the main trunk road of the central of Peninsular Malaysia and end at Gua Musang town. Meanwhile, section from Chiku to Kuala Telemung regazetted as Federal Route 36 in February 2017.

Federal Route 185 traverses two of Peninsular Malaysia's main mountain ranges, the Titiwangsa Range (PerakPahangKelantan) and the Pantai Timur Range (KelantanTerengganu). Hence, several tourist attractions can be found along the highway include Cameron Highlands, Lojing and the Kenyir Lake.

History

The highway used to be known as Perak State Route 181 from Simpang Pulai to Pos Slim before being extended eastwards and recommissioned as a federal highway. The construction of the highway began in 2001 and was completed in 2004. Phase 2 was completed at the end of 2010.

Location of the project

The route runs through the states of Perak, Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, starting at Simpang Pulai and traversing through the main range at Lojing, then Chiku, before entering Jalan Felda Aring and ending at Kuala Jeneris.

Project scope of work

The total distance of the road is 313.66 km (194.90 mi), excluding the 41 km existing road from Gua Musang to Chiku, Kelantan. The road is designed to Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) geometric standard of R3 with a design speed of 50 km/h.

In terms of riding comfort, this R3 standard falls in between the R5 or R6 standard for expressway (typically with a design speed of 80–110 km/h) and R1 or R2 standard such as the winding hilly road (typically with a design speed of 20–30 km/h).

Typically, the road is a two-lane single carriageway with a lane width of 3.5m and shoulder width of 2.5m. Climbing lanes are also provided at certain sections with steep gradient, to assist slow moving vehicles. The project also involves the construction of viaducts, bridges and culverts.

Those who want to go from Simpang Pulai to Kuala Berang/Kuala Berang to Simpang Pulai must go through part of federal route 8.

Estimated cost

The entire project is estimated to cost RM1.6 billion and divided into 10 packages for implementation.

Features

FT 185 Lojing Viaduct is the second highest bridge in Malaysia.

At most sections, the Federal Route 185 was built under the JKR R5 road standard, allowing maximum speed limit of up to 90 km/h.

The highway overlaps with T156 Jalan Pengkalan Utama from Kenyir Lake to Kuala Jeneris.

An extension of the highway from Kuala Jeneris to Kuala Telemung bypass is under construction to connect Route FT 185 to LPT 2 and Bukit Payung. In September 2024 Citaglobal Engineering Services Sdn Bhd has secured a RM47.56mil job for construction works for Package 8 of the Simpang Pulai–Gua Musang–Kuala Berang road project from Kampung Jeneris to Kuala Telemong (Phase 2 and 3) in Hulu Terengganu, Terengganu. The project will take 12 months to complete.

Notable events

  • 20 December 2010 – Twenty-seven people, mostly Thai tourist were killed when the double-decked coach bus they were travelling in crashed at the Second East–West Highway of the PerakPahang border near Cameron Highlands, Pahang.
  • In February 2017, Second East–West Highway section from Chiku to Kuala Berang (Jalan Aring 8 & Jalan Aring 5-Kuala Jeneris) regazetted as FT 36. Meanwhile, section overlaps with D29 at Gua Musang regazetted as FT 185.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ Statistik Jalan (Edisi 2013). Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Public Works Department. 2013. pp. 16–64. ISSN 1985-9619.