Works minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said the free access will involve the Chan Sow Lin toll plaza, Ampang toll plaza from the Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (Akleh) leading to SPE, and the Setiawangsa toll plaza (southbound and northbound) until 11.59pm on Dec 2.

“After that period, a toll of RM3.50 will be imposed on Class 1 vehicles (cars),” he said after the opening ceremony, Bernama reported.

SPE has four sections — Kerinchi-Salak (Section 1), Salak-Pandan (Section 2), Pandan-Setiawangsa (Section 3) and Setiawangsa-Taman Melati (Section 4).

The expressway covers 20.7km, with Section 4 (a 4.4km stretch), opened to traffic on Dec 21, 2021.

The SPE is expected to ease traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur during peak hours by up to 30%.

Peak-hour travel time from Kerinchi or Petaling Jaya to Taman Melati in Gombak, and vice versa, is expected to take only 35 minutes compared to one hour and 30 minutes using the current route.

Nanta said this alone would benefit about 10,000 motorists.