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The Karak Highway (E8)

The Karak Highway (E8), also called the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway or simply Karak Expressway, is a motorway in Peninsular Malaysia. It connects Kuala Lumpur with the town of Karak in Pahang, over a distance of 60 km (37 mi).

The Karak Highway was first built in the 1970s to supplement the existing Federal Route 68 which runs from Gombak to Bentong, Pahang. It includes a 900-meter tunnel at Genting Sempah.

As traffic on the Karak Highway increased, a decision was carried out in the 1990s to upgrade it to a motorway. This involves constructing a parallel highway to the existing one, turning it into a dual carriageway. There are three lanes of traffic on each side from Kuala Lumpur to the Genting Sempah Interchange (Exit 83), and two lanes on each side from there until Karak. The upgrading was completed in 1997. The speed limit was also increased to 90 km/h (56 mph).

There are two toll plazas on the Karak Highway, the Gombak Toll Plaza and the Bentong Toll Plaza. Passenger cars with four wheels pay RM5 when passing the Gombak Toll Plaza and RM3.00 when passing the Bentong Toll Plaza. Motorcycles enjoy toll free usage of the highway.

The East Coast Expressway (E8)

The East Coast Expressway is a motorway from Karak in Pahang to Chendering in Terengganu. Construction began in December 2000 in two phases. Phase 1 was opened to traffic on 15 July 2007 while Phase 2 at the end of 2011.

Phase 1 of the East Coast Expressway is 160 km (99 mi) in length. It begins in Karak and ends in Jabur, at the Pahang-Terengganu border. It passes through Lanchang, Mentakab, Temerloh, Chenor, Marang and Kuantan. Phase 2 is 190 km (120 mi) long. It begins in Jabur and ends in Chendering. It passes through Chenih, Chukai, Kijal, Kerteh, Paka, Dungun, Bukit Besi, Ajil and Telemong. The expressway has seven interchanges and two rest areas.

Interchanges on the Karak Highway

Exits Interchanges

Exit 803

Genting Sempah Interchange Interchange

This is an interchange on two separate carriageways. Traffic heading west enters the interchange at 561 m above sea level while traffic heading east enters it at 559 m above sea level. This is the exit to Genting Sempah, Genting Highlands, Gohtong Jaya, Institut Aminuddin Baki and Janda Baik.


Karak Highway Exit 803 (14 January 2010)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Exit 805

Bukit Tinggi Interchange

This is a trumpet interchange for going to the Berjaya Hill Resorts at Bukit Tinggi.

Exit 808

Bentong West Interchange

Exit for heading to Route 121 (Bentong) and Route 8 (Raub and Kuala Lipis). This is the interchange if you are coming from Kuala Lumpur.

Exit 810

Bentong East Interchang Interchange

This exit is also suitable for entering Route 121 (Bentong) and Route 8 (Raub and Kuala Lipis), particularly if you are coming from the direction of Karak.

Exit 813

Karak Interchange

This is a trumpet interchange at the Karak end of the highway. From here, the motorway continues as the East Coast Expressway, also E8. Exit 813A leads to FELDA Mempaga and Pusar Serenti Mempaga while Exit 813B leads to Karak, Mancis and Kuala Lipis.

Exit 816

Lanchang Interchange

This is a trumpet interchange with toll plaza. You can exit the expressway here to Route 2 (Lanchang) or to Route 8 (Raub, Kuala Lipis).

Exit 819

Temerloh Interchange

This is a trumpet interchange with toll plaza. The exit leads to Route 98 (Temerloh, Mentakab, Jerantut and Taman Negara).

Temerloh Rest Stop

Rest Areas on both sides of the motorway. The rest area has a food court, toilets, prayer rooms and petrol station (Shell).

Exit 821

Chenor Interchange

This is a trumpet interchange with toll plaza. The exit leads to Route 2 (Kampung Awah), Route 83 (Bandar Pusat Jengka) and State Route C23 (Chenor)

Exit 825

Maran Interchange

This is a trumpet interchange with toll plaza. The exit leads to Route 2 (Maran) and State Route C21 (Lubuk Paku).

Exit 827

Sri Jaya Interchange

This is a trumpet interchange with toll plaza. The exit leads to Route 2 (Sri Jaya) and State Route C19 (Belimbing and Lake Chini)

Gambang Rest Stop

Rest area on both sides of the motorway with food court, toilets, prayer rooms and petrol station (Petronas).

Exit 830

Gambang Interchange

This is a trumpet interchange with toll plaza. It leads to Route 12 (Segamat, Bandar Muadzam Shah), Route 82 (Pekan) and Route 222 (Gambang, Bandar MEC and MEC Highway).

Exit 833

Kuantan Interchange

This is a trumpet interchange with toll plaza. The exit leads to Route 2 (Teluk Cempedak), Route 3 (Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport) and State Route C4 (Sungai Lembing, Bandar Indera Mahkota and Kuantan).

Exit 836

Jabur Interchange

This is a trumpet interchange with toll plaza. The exit leads to Gebeng Bypass, Gebeng, Route 2 (Beserah), Route 3 (Cherating, Kuantan Port) and Route 14 (Jabur)





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