| Country: | MYS |
| Kimanis–Keningau Highway | |
| Length Km: | 53 |
| Direction A: | West |
| Terminus A: | Kimanis |
| Junction: | Federal Route 1 Malaysia Federal Route 500 Interior North-South Highway |
| Direction B: | East |
| Terminus B: | Keningau |
| Destinations: | Crocker Range National Park Kota Kinabalu (from Keningau/Tenom) Keningau (main destination) Tenom (via Keningau) |
Kimanis–Keningau Highway is a state highway in Sabah, Malaysia, connecting the town of Kimanis to Keningau. It also acts as an alternative for Federal Route 500 from Kota Kinabalu to Tenom which is nowadays somewhat under-use. The 53km (33miles) highway began as a main logging road before being upgraded to a full two-lane highway.[1] The highway was opened to traffic in 2006.
Even though the highway is relatively short and is in very good condition, it is notorious for its very steep gradients along the way, ranging from 10% to about 25%, making the Kimanis–Keningau Highway as the steepest highway in Malaysia.[2] [3] As a result, climbing road lanes are provided at steep sections.
A gravity hill induced by optical illusion is located from Keningau. It is reported that at the gravity hill, there is a slope which appears as a downhill slope, but is actually an uphill slope.
There are at least three popular stops along the highway:
These stops are popular for motorists especially lorries, buses and tourists. The punishing steep gradient made it necessary for the lorries to make frequent stops and replenish their water-cooling tanks. From the high vantage point of Dimie Resort there is a panaromic view of the Brunei Bay and the Klias Bay to the west and glimpse of the Keningau Plain. The Liawan river and the Pampang river, which flow into the Keningau Plain, arise from the divide provided by the Crocker Range.
| Km | Exit | Interchange | To | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimanis | Federal Route 1 North Kota Kinabalu Papar South Beaufort Sindumin | Roundabout | |||
| Shell Layby | Shell | Keningau bound | |||
| Bongawan Estate | North Papar South Bongawan | Roundabout | |||
| Kimanis–keningau Highway R&R Complex | R&R complex Kimanis bound | ||||
| Layby | Keningau bound | ||||
| -- m above sea level | Kimanis bound, engage lower gear | ||||
| West Coast Division Papar district border | |||||
| West Coast-Interior division border | |||||
| Interior Division Keningau district border | |||||
| -- m above sea level | Keningau bound, engage lower gear | ||||
| Crocker Range National Park -- m above sea level | |||||
| Jalan Masak Roundabout | South Jalan Patikang Ulu Tenom | Roundabout | |||
| Keningau | Federal Route 500 Interior North-South Highway Northeast Tambunan Ranau Kota Kinabalu Southwest | Roundabout | |||