Jelas & LekaS: The Plan Still On?

Besides the West Coast Expressway (Taiping-Banting) in which the concession agreement has been signed, there are 2 other proposed expressways in the northern region, which are the Jelas & LekaS. Both seem to be still under planning stage.

Jelapang-Selama-Batu Kawan Expressway (Jelas), as its name suggests, connects Ipoh (Jelapang) to Penang (Batu Kawan). 

Jelas connects small towns along the way, and will be linked to North-South highway (PLUS) at Jelapang & Batu Kawan, linked to LekaS at Selama and Penang 2nd bridge at Batu Kawan.

       The proposed route map of Jelas

One of the interchange of Jelas is Lima Kongsi, which is near Valdor & Sg Bakap of Seberang Perai Selatan. Asas Dunia has a lot of land in this area, while Tambun Indah's Bandar Tasek Mutiara is also not far away.

       Possible Jelas route at Lima Kongsi interchange

Lebuhraya Kulim Selatan (LekaS), not Kajang/Seremban highway, connects Sungai Petani, Kulim and Bandar Baharu. It is linked to PLUS at both ends, which are Sg Petani & Bandar Baharu. It is also linked to Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE) at Kulim.

       LekaS propsed route

Jelas is a 6-lane 116km highway with 2km tunnel and provides an alternative route between Penang and Ipoh. I wonder how many motorists would like to exit PLUS highway at Batu Kawan, pay the tol 2 extra times to use Jelas to Ipoh and vice versa. From the map, the distance of Plus & Jelas between Penang & Ipoh is almost the same. Of course unless the tol rate of Jelas is significantly cheaper or during peak season, perhaps Jelas may face low traffic problem.

The project of Jelas & LekaS are given to a same company Beta Mutiara Corporation Berhad under the "build-operate-transfer" scheme. As long as the tol rate is acceptable, the construction of these two expressways should benefit the people.