E8: Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway

E8: Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway (14 January 2010)


Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway, also known as Karak Expressway, and commonly known as the Karak Highway is a major expressway in Peninsular Malaysia. It is part of the E8, which also includes the East Coast Expressway. It connects Kuala Lumpur with the town of Karak in Pahang, over a distance of 60 km (37 mi).

The Karak Highway was first built in the 1970s to supplement the existing Federal Route 68 which runs from Gombak to Bentong, Pahang. It includes a 900-meter tunnel at Genting Sempah.

As traffic on the Karak Highway increased, a decision was carried out in the 1990s to upgrade it to a expressway. This involves constructing a parallel highway to the existing one, turning it into a dual carriageway. There are three lanes of traffic on each side from Kuala Lumpur to the Genting Sempah Interchange (Exit 83), and two lanes on each side from there until Karak. The upgrading was completed in 1997. The speed limit was also increased to 90 km/h (56 mph).

There are two toll plazas on the Karak Highway, the Gombak Toll Plaza and the Bentong Toll Plaza. Passenger cars with four wheels pay RM5 when passing the Gombak Toll Plaza and RM3.00 when passing the Bentong Toll Plaza. Motorcycles enjoy toll free usage of the highway.

Map of Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway (E8)

Interchanges on the Karak Highway

Exit 801: Gombak North Interchange

Gombak Toll Plaza
As of 15 October, 2015, the toll rates for vehicles passing through the Gombak Toll Plaza is RM6.00 for passenger cars, RM3.00 for taxis, RM5.00 for buses, RM12.00 for vans and small lorries, and RM18 for large trucks with 3 or more axles. Free passage for motorcycles and bicycles.

Exit 802 (planned)

Gombak Rest Stop

Exit 803A: Genting Sempah Interchange
The Genting Sempah Interchange is the exit for going to Genting Highlands as well as Institut Aminuddin Baki.

Genting Sempah Tunnel
The Genting Sempah Tunnel is the only tunnel along the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway. When it was completed in 1979, it was the first highway tunnel in the country. The 900-meter tunnel was also the longest road tunnel in Malaysia until the completion of the SMART Tunnel in 2007.

Exit 803: Genting Sempah Interchange
The Genting Sempah Interchange is an interchange on two separate carriageways. Traffic heading west enters the interchange at 561 m above sea level while traffic heading east enters it at 559 m above sea level. This is the exit to Genting Sempah, Genting Highlands, Gohtong Jaya, Institut Aminuddin Baki and Janda Baik.

Exit 805: Bukit Tinggi Interchange
The Bukit Tinggi Interchange is a trumpet interchange for going to the Berjaya Hill Resorts at Bukit Tinggi.

Sungai Benus Bridge

Lenteng Layby
The Lengteng Layby is located on the southbound side of the expressway.

Kampung Lenteng Junctions
At grade junctions on both sides of the expressway to Kampung Lenteng.

Sungai Benus Bridge
Another bridge across Sungai Benus, running in tangent to Route 68. Street view is of the bridge from Route 68.

Dusun Eco Resort Junction
At grade junction on the Karak-bound side of the expressway.

Petronas Layby
Petrol station on the Karak-bound side of the expressway.

Sungai Benus Bridge
Yet another bridge across Sungai Benus.

Bentong Toll Plaza
As of 15 October, 2015, the toll rates for vehicles passing through the Bentong Toll Plaza is RM3.50 for passenger cars, RM1.80 for taxis, RM3.00 for buses, RM7.00 for vans and small lorries, and RM10.50 for large trucks with 3 or more axles. Free passage for motorcycles and bicycles.

Exit 808: Bentong West Interchange
Exit here to continue on Route 121 towards Bentong and Route 8 towards Raub and Kuala Lipis, particularly if you are coming from Kuala Lumpur.

Grade-Separated U-turns

Exit 810: Bentong East Interchange
Exit here to continue on entering Route 121 towards Bentong or Route 8 for Raub and Kuala Lipis, particularly if you are coming from the direction of Karak.

Sungai Bentong Bridge

Sungai Bentong Bridge

Petronas Layby
Petrol station on the Kuala Lumpur-bound side of the expressway.

Kampung Sungai Dua

Exit 813: Karak Interchange
The Karak Interchange is a trumpet interchange at the Karak end of the highway. From here, the expressway continues as the East Coast Expressway, also E8. Exit 813A leads to FELDA Mempaga and Pusar Serenti Mempaga while Exit 813B leads to Karak, Mancis and Kuala Lipis.

Karak Toll Plaza
This is where motorists enter the East Coast Expressway's closed toll system. Unlike on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway, where toll is collected at the Gombak and Bentong toll plazas, over here motorists pay according to the distance they travel. Thus, every exit has its own toll plaza, where toll is charged, or where the toll transit cards are issued. Motorists on the East Coast Expressway traveling in the direction of Karak pay their toll here.

Back to Discover Malaysia mainpage; List of Expressways in Malaysia; see also Highways in Malaysia

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