East–West Highway (Malaysia)

Federal Route 4
East-West Highway
Route information
Existed:	1970 – present
History:	Completed in 1982
Major junctions
West end:	Gerik, Perak
	Federal Route 76 Federal Route 205 Federal Route 66
East end:	Jeli, Kelantan
Location
Primary destinations:	Temenggor Lake Banding Island Tanah Merah Kota Bharu Pasir Puteh
Highway system
Highways in Malaysia Expressways • Federal • State

East-West Highway, Federal Route (Malay: Lebuhraya Timur-Barat or Jalan Raya Timur-Barat) is a highway constructed by Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) to shorten the journey from Kota Bharu, Kelantan to northwestern towns and cities of Malaysia such as Alor Star and Penang. Before East-West Highway was built, the journey from Alor Star to Kota Bharu may reach over 1,000 km (-- miles), but the highway shortens the distance by about several hundred kilometers. The highway includes Lake Temenggor Bridge which crosses Temenggor Lake, a hydroelectric dam. The East-West Highway is one of the more scenic routes in Peninsular Malaysia, due to its hilly nature. There are even places where road signs are put up to warn motorists of elephants crossing the road.

History

The East-West Highway was built in the 1970 as a defence-related highway. In the early stages, there was military presence in every kilometre. The road was built to cut off the Communist Party of Malaya from the safe havens in Thailand. During construction, the highway was sabotaged by the Communist terrorists during the Communist insurgency from 1970 to 1982. Many of workers were killed and the buildozers was seriously damaged. The East-West Highway was put under strict security control by Malaysian army when the highway was opened in 1 July 1982. Motorists were allowed to use the highway at daytime only due to security reasons. The military control of the highway was lifted after the insurgency war was ended in 1989.

Memorials

The Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) monument was erected in Pulau Banding near the Lake Temenggor Bridge on 1 July 1982 to commemorate those who died during construction of the East-West Highway and lake bridge. The plaques reads Jalan Raya Timur Barat (1970-1982): Pengorbanan Dalam Kenangan. (East West Highway (1970–1982): The Greatest Sacrifice).

Notable features

• There is one semi tunnel on the highway. It is probably the only one of its type in Malaysia.
• There are many military bunkers along the highway.
• There are two rest and service area along the highway. One at Pulau Banding and one at Air Banun (1,050m above sea level)

List of junctions and towns

Km	Exit	Interchanges/Junctions	To	Remarks
0		GERIK (North) Kampung Bahru Batu Dua	NORTH Sungai Petani Baling Pengkalan Hulu SOUTH Kuala Kangsar Lenggong	Town centre T-Junctions
EAST-WEST HIGHWAY Start/End of highway
		Taman Puncak Nilam
		Jalan Baling-Gerik	WEST A173 JALAN BALING-GERIK Kupang Baling Kulim Butterworth	T-junctions
		Kuala Rui ----m above sea level	SOUTHEAST A171 JALAN TEMENGGOR Kampung Bendang Riang Kampung Basia Lama Temenggor Dam	T-junctions
		Lake Temenggor Bridge Lake Temenggor ----m above sea level
		PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor ----m above sea level	PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor Belum Rainforest Resort Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) monument V i C*	T-junctions
		Petronas ----m above sea level	Petronas
		PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor ----m above sea level	PULAU BANDING Lake Temenggor Banding Island Resort V i C*	T-junctions
		Lake Temenggor Bridge Lake Temenggor ----m above sea level
		Belum Forest ----m above sea level
		Air Banun ----m above sea level
		R&R East-West Highway Rest and Service Area 1,050m above sea level	V C*	Highway rest and service area Military controlled area No trespassing
Perak Darul Ridzuan Hulu Perak district border
Perak-Kelantan border
Kelantan Darul Naim Jeli district border
		Semi tunnel ----m above sea level
		Sungai Pergau bridge ----m above sea level
		Kampung Lawar ----m above sea level	WEST Batu Melintang Kalai	T-junctions
		Sungai Pergau bridge ----m above sea level
		Kampung Gunong ----m above sea level	WEST Batu Melintang Kalai	T-junctions
		Pergau ----m above sea level
EAST-WEST HIGHWAY Start/End of highway
		JELI	SOUTH Gua Musang Dabong	Town centre T-Junctions
		JELI (East)	SOUTH D203 JALAN JELI TIMUR Gua Musang Dabong	T-junctions
			EAST Tanah Merah Machang Kota Bharu Kuala Krai Pasir Puteh AH18 AH18 Besut AH18 AH18 Kuala Terengganu

See also

• Second East-West Highway