Entering Kuala Lumpur by Road
Kuala Lumpur has the best road infrastructure in Malaysia, and one of the best in Southeast Asia. I say "one of the best" because despite all the expressways being constructed in the city, Kuala Lumpur still suffers from perennial traffic jams.
A common grievance among locals and visitors alike are the unforgiving road system - if you miss a turn, you have to cover a long distance before you have a chance to turn back. Another complaint is that, within the city centre, road signs are often posted right at the junction, giving motorists who are not familiar with the roads little chance to make the turn until it is too late.
Kuala Lumpur is a sprawling city. The urban area spills out of the Federal Territory to cover much the Klang Valley. Quite often, you have to travel a long time on the road to get anywhere. Having said all the above, I have to admit that it is still quite a joy driving in Kuala Lumpur compared to a few other Asian cities. There are certainly fewer motorcycles compared to Penang. Its expressways are well signaged (as opposed to city streets), with numbered exits that correspond to the expressway numbers. However, with expressways come another grievance: paying to pay toll is now a way of life in Kuala Lumpur.
From the North
If you are coming from the north, you will most likely be taking the North-South Expressway Northern Route (E1). As you approach Kuala Lumpur, pay attention to the signage for Kuala Lumpur and follow it. Every exit on the expressway is numbered. The most crucial interchange is the one at Bukit Lanjan. This is where the expressway forks two. If you go straight, the expressway takes you to the Jalan Duta Toll Plaza and onwards to the city centre. If you turn left, you continue down the New Klang Valley Expressway, which takes to Shah Alam and onwards to Klang.
From the South
The main expressway entering Kuala Lumpur from the south is the North-South Expressway Southern Route (E2). After the Sungai Besi Toll Plaza, the expressway becomes the Kuala Lumpur Seremban Expressway (E37), so don't get confused.
From the East
The Karak Expressway (E8) is the main access from the East Coast. Taking this expressway, you enter Kuala Lumpur via the Middle Ring Road II and the Duke Expressway.
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