Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway Explained

Country:MYS
Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway
Length Km:17.6
Direction A:Summit
Terminus A:Genting Highlands
Junction: Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway
Federal Route 68
Jalan Batang Kali–Genting Highlands
Jalan Gunung Ulu Kali
Direction B:Downhill
Terminus B:Genting Sempah
Destinations:Genting Highlands
Gohtong Jaya
Institut Aminuddin Baki
Genting Sempah
Batang Kali
Ulu Yam
Established:1965
History:Access road completed in 1969, with further construction during 2001–2005

The Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway is the main highway from Genting Sempah to Genting Highlands, Malaysia, a mountain resort and entertainment park. This is a private highway owned by Genting Berhad. The speed limit of the highway is 50 km/h (31 mph).

Route background

The Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway begins at the downhill Genting Sempah near EXIT 803 on Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway (kilometre 17.6). Its terminus (kilometre zero) is at Genting Highlands summit.[1]

History

The Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway used to be a private highway owned by Genting Highlands Resort. Construction of the access road to Genting Highlands began on 18 August 1965 and took four years to complete from Genting Sempah to Mount Ulu Kali's peak. The access road finally opened on 31 March 1969 in conjunction with the official laying of the foundation stone for the Genting Hotel (the then Highlands Hotel) by the then-Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. In 2001, a new bypass Chin Swee Bypass was designed as a downhill route from the summit to the downhill Chin Swee Temple was constructed and completed in 2005. The construction of the new bypass was regarded as one of the most astonishing engineering projects in Malaysia.

In 2021 and 2022, Genting Sempah was closed due to landslides caused by heavy rains that were exacerbated by climate change.[2]

Notable events

Features

Dangerous curves

At least six spots along the 18 km road leading down from Genting Highlands have recorded horrific accident area involving buses and other heavy vehicles since 1989. 10% steep gradients, sharp bends and less-than-ideal road conditions can make it difficult for heavy vehicles to manoeuvre, and odds of losing control, skidding off the road and crashing, are high.

Separated one-way roads

The one-way road (formerly original dual-carriageway highway) from Chin Swee Temple was constructed as a climbing route to the summit. The other one-way road from the summit was designed as a downhill route to Chin Swee Temple.

Emergency escape ramp

Emergency escape ramps are also provided, especially on the one way downhill Genting Sempah bound lanes. An emergency escape ramp enables vehicles that are having braking problems to stop safely. It is typically a long, sand or gravel-filled lane adjacent to a road with a steep grade, and is designed to accommodate large, heavy vehicles. The deep gravel allows the heavy vehicle's momentum to be dissipated in a controlled and relatively harmless way, allowing the operator to stop it safely.

Viaducts at Chin Swee Bypass

Viaducts at the downhill road of Chin Swee Bypass leading Genting Sempah bound.

Le Tour de Langkawi

Genting Highlands serve as the finish point of a stage in the Tour de Langkawi cycling race. It is one of the longest (30 km) climbs featured in a cycling event.

Kilometre and Hectormetre markers

Kilometer and Hectormetre markers are placed along the road. It can be used for reporting accident locations.

List of junctions

Original route

KmExitInterchangeToRemarks
1 Genting Sempah
Genting Sempah A Roundabout
600m above sea level
803A Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway
(and ETC only)

West
Duta–Ulu Klang Expressway - Kuala Lumpur, Gombak, Ipoh, Klang
Gombak, Ulu Klang, Seremban
Interchange
2Genting Sempah
Genting Sempah B Interchange
648m above sea level
East
Federal Route - Bukit Tinggi, Janda Baik, Gombak
Genting Sempah Rest and Service Area


803A Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway
(and ETC only)

East
East Coast Expressway - Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan
Central Spine Road - Raub, Gua Musang, Kota Bharu Federal Route 8 - Bentong
Interchange
West bound only
Engage lower gear
Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway
Start/End of expressway
(and ETC only)
ANIH Berhad border limit
Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway
JKR and Genting Berhad border limit
Police post 1
684m above sea level
Police checkpoint
Police post 1
Genting Highlands
Hydrophonic farm
797m above sea level
Genting Sempah bound
Engage lower gear
Roundabout
956m above sea level
Roundabout
Genting Sempah bound
Engage lower gear

---m above sea level
U-Turn
861m above sea level
U-Turn
3 Gohtong Jaya South Interchange
870m above sea level
Northwest
Gohtong Jaya
Town Centre
Goh Tong's Villa (Lim Goh Tong's private residence)
Genting Skyway cable car stations
Interchange with one ramp underpass to Gohtong Jaya from Genting Highlands
U-Turn
861m above sea level
U-Turn
Genting Permai Resort
888m above sea level
Genting Permai Resort
Highlands International Boarding
From Genting Highlands

18
4 Gohtong Jaya Roundabout
925m above sea level
West
Jalan Batang Kali–Genting Highlands - Batang Kali, Ulu Yam
Malaysia Federal Route 1 - Ipoh
Genting Skyway cable car stations


East
Jalan Sri Layang
Institut Aminuddin Baki
Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Layang
Roundabout
Genting Highlands main entrance
Police post 2
17.9 Genting Highlands main entrance
Police post 2
930m above sea level
Police checkpoint
Gohtong Memorial Park
966m above sea level
Gohtong Memorial Park
Lim Goh Tong's grave

16
---m above sea level
15.3 5 Awana Roundabout
1045m above sea level
North
Awana Skyway cable car stations
Genting Highlands Premium Outlets
Masjid Yayasan Mohammad Noah
South
Awana Genting Highlands Golf & Country Resort
Roundabout
12.9 UPM Field Station
1227m above sea level
Genting Sempah bound
Engage lower gear

---m above sea level
Genting Sempah bound
Engage lower gear
Chin Swee Temple Separation
1275m above sea level
Genting Highlands Summit Bound
Genting Highlands
(One-way Genting Highlands bound)
One-way separated carriageway

Genting Sempah bound
Engage lower gear

Genting Highlands Climbing Route

(Climbing route, One-way Genting Highlands bound)

KmExitInterchangeToRemarks

---m above sea level
Start of the one-way bound
6A Chin Swee Temple Exit
1446m above sea level
Chin Swee Temple
Lim Goh Tong's statue
Chin Swee Temple's Awana Skyway cable car stations
RIRO exit

---m above sea level
Cradle Rock
---m above sea level
Cradle Rock
Heliport
1485m above sea level
Heliport
Open car park

1

---m above sea level
Ria Apartments
1671m above sea level
Ria Apartments
Genting Highlands police stations
1708m above sea level
Genting Highlands police stations
Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway
End of one-way bound
0.1 Genting Highlands
Genting Highlands Summit
Kayangan Apartments junctions
1728m above sea level
Northwest One Way
Kayangan Apartments
Genting Highlands fire stations
Genting Highlands staff quarters
End of the one-way bound
Junctions

0
Genting Highlands
Genting Highlands Summit
1760m above sea level
Genting Highlands

Genting GrandFirst World HotelMaxims HotelResort World Hotel
Theme Park Hotel
Maxims Hotel
Crockfords Hotel
First World Plaza
Sky Avenue Mall
Skytropolis Funland
Casino de Genting
SkyCasino
Genting Highlands International Convention Centre
Genting International Showroom
20th Century Fox World

Chin Swee Bypass

(Downhill route, One-way Genting Sempah bound)

KmExitInterchangeToRemarks

0
Genting Highlands
Genting Highlands Summit
1760m above sea level
---m above sea level Start of the one-way bound
Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway
Start of one-way bound
Petron layby
1682m above sea level
Petron
Pelangi Hotel one way
1679m above sea level
West One Way
Pelangi Hotel
Genting Highlands Hotel
Casino de Genting
Genting Highlands International Convention Centre
First World Plaza
First World Hotel
Genting Theme Park
20th Century Fox World
One way directional Y junctions
---m above sea level Start/End of the single carriageway
Heliport
---m above sea level
Heliport
Open car park
TNB substation
1656m above sea level
TNB substation
1650m above sea level Start/End of the single carriageway

1
7 Mushroom Park Roundabout
1652m above sea level
North
Jalan Gunung Ulu Kali
Gunung Ulu Kali
Mushroom Park
Batik Centre
Roundabout
1.6 Emergency escape ramp
1634m above sea level
Emergency escape rampEngage lower gear
Viaduct
---m above sea level
Engage lower gear
Emergency escape ramp
1606m above sea level
Emergency escape rampEngage lower gear
6B Chin Swee Temple Exit
1445m above sea level
Chin Swee Temple
Lim Goh Tong's statue
Chin Swee Temple's Awana Skyway cable car stations
RIRO exit
Engage lower gear
Viaduct
---m above sea level
Engage lower gear
3.4 Emergency escape ramp
1296m above sea level
Emergency escape rampEngage lower gear

4
Viaduct
---m above sea level
Engage lower gear
Chin Swee Temple Separation
1282m above sea level
(Continued to the original route)End of the one-way bound
One-way separated carriageway
Engage lower gear

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jalan Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands . 5 October 2013 . Blog Jalan Raya Malaysia . 6 October 2013.
  2. Web site: Sheriffah Noor Khamseah Al-Idid binti Dato Syed Ahmad Idid . 2022-05-19 . The urgent case for climate crisis mitigation in the National Recovery Plan . 2022-06-17 . The Edge Markets.