Akleh: how Malaysia’s first intra-urban elevated highway improved urban connectivity

The idea for this highway was conceptualised to address traffic congestion and improve connectivity between Ampang and the Kuala Lumpur City Centre. (Prolintas pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (Akleh) made history on May 17, 2001, as Malaysia’s pioneer intra-urban elevated highway and it has been improving urban connectivity ever since.

According to Prolintas Group CEO Azlan Abdullah, Akleh, as the first-ever highway constructed by the company, was specially designed to connect commuters and residents, providing shorter travelling time between Ampang and the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC).

“Akleh was envisioned as a strategic solution, proving beneficial for commuters in Ampang and Hulu Klang, seamlessly accommodating the challenges of rapid urbanisation while contributing to the improvement of the overall connectivity and accessibility in these regions.

“Even after more than 22 years, Akleh remains a preferred alternative for Ampang residents heading to KLCC, effectively mitigating traffic congestion on Jalan Ampang and Jalan Tun Razak,” he told FMT.

Akleh stretches across 7.4km, connecting Jalan Sultan Ismail to Taman Ampang Utama.

It boasts six key interchanges, including Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Jelatek, Jalan Lingkaran Tengah 2 (JLTII), Jalan Kerja Air Lama and Jalan Ampang.

Akleh’s elevated structure offers a scenic view of Kuala Lumpur along its 7.4km stretch, from Jalan Sultan Ismail to Taman Ampang Utama. (Prolintas pic)

Akleh offers an efficient linkage to major routes, including the newly opened Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) and Setiawangsa-Pantai Expressway (SPE), which extend its reach to a larger volume of road users and expands its coverage area.

Azlan emphasised the growing popularity of Akleh, noting that more than 40,000 commuters rely on the highway every day.

“We acknowledge the demands placed on us and remain vigilant, prioritising the safety of our users at all times,” he said.

Azlan also said continuous efforts are being made to address commuter issues and outlined plans for highway improvement.

“In 2015, we completed Phase 2 of Akleh, involving lane widening from Jelatek to Ampang. The feedback from commuters since the completion of this phase has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We would also like to encourage commuters to provide suggestions for improvements. Our goal is to ensure that Akleh remains a reliable highway for users to commute to work, visit shopping malls and many more.

“As Kuala Lumpur continues to evolve, Akleh remains a critical component of the city’s transportation network, ensuring smooth flow of traffic,” he added.

Akleh is one of the six highways owned and operated by Prolintas Group.

The others are the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE), Kemuning-Shah Alam Highway (LKSA), Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway (SILK), SUKE and Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH).

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Akleh: how Malaysia’s first intra-urban elevated highway improved urban connectivity

The Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (Akleh) was officially opened to the public in 2001, providing a direct and elevated route for commuters between Ampang and Kuala Lumpur.