East–West Highway (Malaysia)

Part of Federal Route 4
East-West Highway (Gerik-Jeli Highway)
Route information
Length:	167 km (104 mi)
Existed:	1970[1] – present
History:	Completed in 1982
Major junctions
West end:	Gerik, Perak
	Federal Route 76 Federal Route 205 Federal Route 66 AH140 AH140 Federal Route 4
East end:	Jeli, Kelantan
Location
Primary destinations:	Lake Temenggor Banding Island Tanah Merah Kota Bharu Pasir Puteh
Highway system
AH140 AH140
Highways in Malaysia Expressways Federal State

East-West Highway (Malay: Lebuhraya Timur-Barat or Jalan Raya Timur-Barat) or also known as Gerik-Jeli Highway, Federal Route , Asian Highway Route AH140 AH140^[2] is the 167 kilometres (104 mi) federal highway constructed by the Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) to shorten the journey from Kota Bharu, Kelantan to northwestern towns and cities of Malaysia such as Alor Star, Kedah and Penang. The highway connects Gerik, Perak in the west to Jeli, Kelantan in the east.

Overview

With the opening of the East-West Highway to traffic on 1 July 1982, another milestone in the history of road communication in Peninsular Malaysia was achieved. The construction of the Highway was one of the largest projects undertaken by the JKR and its completion adds to the large mileage of roads in the country providing necessary access to new areas and the infrastructure for development works. The construction of the main Highway was carried out by JKR workers; while the bridges and some of the ancillary works were carried out through contractors.

Before East-West Highway was built, the journey from Alor Star to Kota Bharu may reach over 1,000 kilometres (621 mi), but the highway shortens the distance by about several hundred kilometers. The highway includes Lake Temenggor Bridge which crosses Lake Temenggor, a hydroelectric dam and Pulau Banding, an artificial island.

The East-West Highway is one of the more scenic routes in Peninsular Malaysia, due to its hilly nature. As one enters the Highway, the Titiwangsa Range through which the Highway traverses comes into view in the distant. Traveling along the gentle curves one climbs higher and sees on either side the primary jungle rich with timber. As one proceeds on, the jungle gives way to the huge man-made Lake Temenggor at Banding. Halfway along the Highway the elevation of the road is over 1,100 m above sea level and the weather cool and pleasant. There are even places where road signs are put up to warn motorists of elephants crossing the road.

The completion of the Highway will reduce transport costs and with this the state of Kelantan can expect its tempo of development to be heightened, new towns and industrial areas will be developed. The Highway will provide the access for the extraction of timber from the jungles along the road and help boost tourism among Malaysians as well as foreigners.

History

The East-West Highway was built in the 1970 as a defence-related highway during the Communist Insurgency War from 1968 to 1989. The Malaysian Government, then, introduced a new strategy of fighting the Communist Party of Malaya. It was known as Security and Development, or KESBAN, the local acronym (Program Keselamatan dan Pembangunan), and focused on civil military affairs. Under KESBAN, the government made large efforts to develop rural areas with the implementation of massive development programs such as building roads, schools, hospitals, medical clinics, and public utilities like electricity and water supply.

In October 1969, the JKR was instructed to commence work on the Highway with immediate effect. In early 1970, work started, simultaneously from Gerik and Jeli even before any detailed design or investigations were carried out. Existing earth moving machines from the various states were initially deployed until new machines for the project were purchased. It was only in early 1973 that the full complement of machines and staff were available for the project to proceed. In the early stages, there was military presence in every kilometre. The road was built to cut off the Communist terrorist from the safe havens in Thailand.

Two Base Camps were constructed, one at the Gerik end and the other at the Jeli end. The whole construction staff and their families were housed at these camps. A pilot track was constructed to gain access to the forward areas. This was followed by jungle clearing work by the main earthworks teams. As work progressed and travel time between the work site and Base camp increased, forward camps were set up to house the workers.

During construction, the Highway was sabotaged and ambushed by the Communist terrorists during the Communist insurgency from 1970 to 1982. Many of workers were killed and the buldozers was seriously damaged. The East-West Highway was put under strict security control by Malaysian Army when the Highway was opened in 1 July 1982.^[1] Motorists were allowed to use the Highway at daytime only due to security reasons. The military control of the Highway was lifted after the insurgency war was ended in 1989.

The successful completion of the East-West Highway is the result of the sacrifice of workers who had to carry out their jobs under difficult and trying conditions. The JKR wishes to record its deep appreciation to them and to the Security Forces who have all made some personal sacrifices for the development and prosperity of the country.^[3]

Memorials

Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) East-West Highway Monument

The Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) East-West Highway Monument was erected in Pulau Banding near the Lake Temenggor Bridge on 1 July 1982 to commemorate those who died during construction of the East-West Highway with lake bridge. The plaques reads Pengorbanan Dalam Kenangan, Jalan Raya Timur Barat (1970-1982) (The Greatest Sacrifice, East West Highway (1970–1982)). Images

Malay

PENGORBANAN DALAM KENANGAN
JALAN RAYA TIMUR BARAT
(1970-1982)

Jalan Raya Timur Barat (Gerik - Jeli) telah dibuka pada lalulintas pada 1hb Julai 1982. Banyak nyawa telah terkorban semasa kerja pembinaan dilaksanakan mulai tahun 1970. Ada yang terkorban semasa kemalangan di tempat kerja dan ada yang diserang oleh pengganas komunis.

Di lokasi ini, 63 buah mesin jentolak tanah telah diletupkan oleh pengganas komunis pada 23hb Mei 1974. Di lokasi ini juga tiga nyawa pekerja JKR telah terkorban dan beberapa lagi cedera dalam serangan pengganas pada 27hb Ogos 1974. Beberapa serangan lain juga telah berlaku di sepanjang jalan raya yang melibatkan pekerja JKR dan anggota pasukan keselamatan. Kita memperingati semua yang telah berkorban nyawa bagi menjayakan pembinaan Jalan Raya Timur Barat ini.

Sila sedekahkan AL-FATIHAH pada orang-orang yang terkorban di sini.

English

THE GREATEST SACRIFICE
EAST-WEST HIGHWAY
(1970-1982)

The East West Highway (Gerik - Jeli) was opened to traffic on 1st July 1982. Many lives have been lost during the construction which was implemented in the year 1970. Some people have died during an accident at work and some people were attacked by communist terrorist.

At this location, about 63 buldozers were blown up by the communist terrorist on 23 May 1974. At this location also three JKR workers were killed and several others wounded in an ambush on 27th August 1974. Several other attacks have occurred along the highway involving the JKR workers and security forces. We commemorate those who have sacrifice their lives for the construction of the East West Highway.

Please remit AL-FATIHAH* for those who lost their lives here.

Note: The word "AL-FATIHAH" is the first chapter of the Qur'an in Islam.

Malaysian Army Insurgency War Memorial

Other memorials include the Malaysian Army Insurgency War Memorial located at Dataran Juang in the Kem Tentera Darat Banding army camp not far from Lake Temenggor Bridge. This memorial was erected on 5 June 2009 to commemorate 116 soldiers who died during Communist insurgency from 1968 to 1989. The armoured vehicles at this memorial is Cadillac Gage Commando which was used during insurgency.Images

Specifications

There are 5 major bridges along the Highway. Two of the bridges including the longest, the Lake Temenggor Bridge, span arms of the lake formed by the Temenggor Dam Project. The bridges were designed by ENEX of New Zealand under the Colombo Plan Aid. Construction of 3 of the bridges were undertaken by a foreign contractor while a joint venture between 2 local firms undertook the construction of the remaining 2 bridges. In addition to the above, there are about 280 culverts constructed mainly by departmental workers.

Constructing the Highway was never plain sailing for the JKR. There were many constraints, which slowed down progress. Some 27.5 million cubic meter of earth was required to be cut to construct the Highway, of this over 3.8 million cubic meter was rock, which required drilling and blasting operations for its removal. Hill cuts of over 60 m and valleys over 100 m deep, which required filling was found at many locations. The intensity of the monsoon rains especially in the forward areas reduced time available for construction to 10 months in a year. The East-West Highway is located close to the Malaysia-Thailand Border and is situated in a Security Area. As a result several measures had to be taken and procedures adopted to ensure the safety of the workers and the machines. These too contributed to some delay. The 116 km long Highway, which links the East Coast at Jeli, Kelantan with the West Coast at Gerik, Perak cost RM 396 million. Other details of the project are as follows:

Major Bridges Span

1. Sungai Rui Bridge: 256m
2. Lake Temenggor Bridge (West side): 880 m
3. Lake Temenggor Bridge (East side): 640 m
4. Upper Sungai Pergau Bridge: 159 m
5. Lower Sungai Pergau Bridge: 158 m

Road Design Criteria

• Design speed: 72 km/h
• Maximum Gradient: 7%
• Pavement Width: 7.2 m
• Shoulder Width: 2.3 m

Features

• There is one semi tunnel on the highway. It is probably the only one of its type in Malaysia.
• There are many military bunkers along the highway.
• There are five rest and service area along the highway. In Perah (Gerik), Pulau Banding, Air Banun, Titiwangsa (1,050m above sea level) and Lake Pergau.
• Elephant crossing on the road.

List of junctions and towns

Km	Exit	Junctions	To	Remarks
0	EXIT 1	GERIK (NORTH) Kampung Bahru Batu Dua KAMPUNG BAHRU BATU DUA JUNCTIONS	NORTH Pengkalan Hulu Baling Sungai Petani Alor Star SOUTH Gerik town centre Lenggong Kuala Kangsar Ipoh AH2 AH2 Kuala Lumpur Hulu Perak District and Land Office Majlis Daerah Gerik (MDG) headquarters Hulu Perak District Police Headquarters Masjid Jamek Gerik	Town centre T-Junctions
AH140 AH140 EAST-WEST HIGHWAY Start/End of highway
		Taman Puncak Nilam
	EXIT 2	JALAN BALING-GERIK JUNCTIONS	WEST A173 JALAN BALING-GERIK K171 Kupang K171 Baling AH140 AH140 Kulim AH140 AH140 Butterworth AH140 AH140 Penang	T-junctions
		R&R Hentian Perah Rest and Service Area	V C*	Highway rest and service area
GERIK, BANDAR PERSINGGAHAN (The Rest Town of Perak)
	EXIT 3	Kuala Rui KUALA RUI JUNCTIONS	SOUTHEAST A171 JALAN TEMENGGOR Kampung Baharu Kuala Rui Kampung Bendang Riang Kampung Basia Lama TNB Temenggor Dam	T-junctions
		Sungai Rui bridge 256 m
	EXIT 4	Kampung Bendang Riang KAMPUNG BENDANG RIANG JUNCTIONS	NORTH JALAN FELDA BERSIA FELDA Bersia SOUTHEAST A171 JALAN TEMENGGOR Kampung Bendang Riang Kampung Basia Lama TNB Temenggor Dam	Junctions
		JPJ Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ) Kuala Rui weighing station
--
	EXIT 5	FELDA Bersia FELDA BERSIA JUNCTIONS	NORTHWEST JALAN FELDA BERSIA FELDA Bersia	T-junctions
--		----m above sea level
--		----m above sea level
		Kem Tentera Darat Banding (Malaysian Army Camp) ----m above sea level	Dataran Juang Malaysian Army Insurgency War Memorial
		Banding Lake Side Inn ----m above sea level
		Lake Temenggor Bridge (West side) 880 m Lake Temenggor ----m above sea level
PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor ----m above sea level
		PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor ----m above sea level	PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor (Jetty) Belum Rainforest Resort Sidai Restaurant and Recreation Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) East-West Highway Monument V C*	T-junctions
		PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor Petronas ----m above sea level	PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor Petronas C* V
		PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor ----m above sea level	PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor (Jetty) Pulau Banding Rainforest Research Centre Banding Island Resort Tasik Banding Discovery Island R&R Pulau Banding Rest and Service Area V C*	T-junctions
PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor ----m above sea level
		Lake Temenggor Bridge (East side) 640 m Lake Temenggor ----m above sea level
		Belum Forest Reserve ----m above sea level
		R&R Air Banun Rest and Service Area ----m above sea level	V C*	Highway rest and service area
		Air Banun ----m above sea level
		Belum Forest Reserve ----m above sea level
		R&R Titiwangsa Rest and Service Area 1,050m above sea level	V C*	Highway rest and service area Military controlled area No trespassing
		Semi tunnel ----m above sea level
--		----m above sea level
Perak Darul Ridzuan Hulu Perak district border Gerik sub-district border
Perak-Kelantan border ----m above sea level
Kelantan Darul Naim Jeli district border
--		----m above sea level
		R&R Lake Pergau Rest and Service Area ----m above sea level	V C*	Highway rest and service area
		Lake Pergau Lake Pergau Recreational Centre ----m above sea level	Lake Pergau Lake Pergau Recreational Centre V C*	T-junctions
		TNB Pergau Dam ----m above sea level
		Upper Sungai Pergau bridge 159 m ----m above sea level
	EXIT 6	Kampung Lawar KAMPUNG LAWAR JUNCTIONS ----m above sea level	WEST Batu Melintang Kalai	T-junctions
		Lower Sungai Pergau bridge 158 m ----m above sea level
	EXIT 7	Kampung Gunong KAMPUNG GUNONG JUNCTIONS ----m above sea level	WEST Batu Melintang Kalai	T-junctions
		Pergau ----m above sea level
AH140 AH140 EAST-WEST HIGHWAY Start/End of highway
	EXIT 8	JELI JELI WEST JUNCTIONS	SOUTH Jeli town centre Dabong D29 Gua Musang Jeli District (Jajahan) and Land Office Majlis Daerah Jeli (MDJ) headquarters Jeli District Police Headquarters Masjid Jamek Daerah Jeli	Town centre T-Junctions
	EXIT 9	JELI JELI EAST JUNCTIONS	SOUTH D203 JALAN JELI TIMUR Jeli town centre Dabong D29 Gua Musang Jeli District (Jajahan) and Land Office Majlis Daerah Jeli (MDJ) headquarters Jeli District Police Headquarters Masjid Jamek Jeli	T-junctions
			EAST AH140 AH140 Tanah Merah AH140 AH140 Machang Kota Bharu Kuala Krai AH140 AH140 Pasir Puteh AH18 AH18 Besut AH18 AH18 Kuala Terengganu

Commemorative Events

The East-West Highway Commemorative Postage Stamps

The Commemorative Postage Stamps to mark the opening of the East-West Highway on 1982 was issued by then the Malaysian Postal Services Department (now Pos Malaysia) on 1 July 1983, just one years after the opening ceremony of the Highway. The denominations for these stamps were 15 cents, 20 cents, and RM 1.00.

See also

• Second East-West Highway

References