Construction of Malaysia’s West Ipoh Span Expressway (WISE) is expected to cost US$1.4 billion. The firm holding the concession for the route, East Coast Road Sdn Bhd (ECRSB), will pay for the project’s construction.
The concession agreement for the 61km route is for a 55-year period and the toll charges have already been agreed also. Construction is expected to take 48 months to complete and when open in 2028, the route will make a significant reduction in congestion on other roads in the area.
According to WISE, “The long-awaited highway spanning from Gopeng to Kuala Kangsar in Perak, will be a strategic asset, driving social, environmental, and economic progress. WISE will unlock countless opportunities, fuelling economic growth and social development, particularly in Perak.
The route runs from Gopeng to Kuala Kangsar, bypassing the winding and steep gradient of the existing North-South Expressway (NSE) which traverses through the Keledang Range in Central Perak. The route has been designed as a dual-three lane expressway with a design speed of 120km/h and a speed limit of 110km/h. The WISE link will utilise modern Multi-Lane Fast Flow (MLFF) tolling technology.
