KUALA LUMPUR — With further completions to the West Coast Expressway (WCE), the highway concessionaire expects around 140,000 vehicles daily during the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
WCE in a statement said the projection aligns with past festive trends, including Chinese New Year, Deepavali, and Christmas, which have consistently seen average daily traffic (ADT) between 130,000 and 150,000 vehicles.
“Based on historical data from festive periods, we anticipate 140,000 vehicles to utilise the WCE daily during this Raya Aidilfitri, particularly along the stretch from Taiping Selatan to Banting,” said Syed Mohammed Idid, General Manager, Strategic Communications and Stakeholder Engagement at WCE.
He said after sections 5, 8, 9, and 10 of the WCE were completed in 2019, the ADT was approximately 60,000 vehicles.
“Following the opening of the Assam Jawa interchange (Section 6) on November 20, 2023, the ADT increased to 70,000 vehicles.”
The opening of the Taiping Selatan section (Section 11) on the eve of Ramadan, March 12, 2024, completed the entire Perak state alignment, and further raised the ADT to above 80,000.
“With the recent opening of Selangor Section 1 Banting and Section 2 Kesas, the current ADT has reached around 90,000,” WCE’s statement added.
“The increased traffic flow highlights the expressway’s critical role in facilitating travel during peak holiday seasons. The completion of Section 7, the Tanjung Karang exit, expected in 2026, is anticipated to further alleviate congestion and stimulate regional economic growth,” the concessionaire said.
WCE said Tanjung Karang MP Datuk Dr. Zulkafperi Hanapi has also welcomed the expected completion of Section 7 next year as it would significantly improve traffic flow in the Tanjung Karang area and contribute to the area’s economic development. — March 24, 2025