Cover Photo: YouTube @
SKYRUNMALAYSIA
Photo: YouTube @ SKYRUNMALAYSIA
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The highly anticipated Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH) has finally opened to the public
Motorists in the Klang Valley can finally enjoy travelling along the newly launched Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH), which links Puncak Perdana in Shah Alam to Penchala in northwestern Kuala Lumpur. Launched at 12:01am on October 14, 2022, DASH is a first for Malaysian highways as it boasts a handful of never-before-seen features on Malaysian highways and is expected to serve an average of 50,000 vehicles daily.
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Before you cruise along the state-of-the-art highway, here are three things you need to know about DASH.
The Route
DASH, which is 90 per cent elevated and 10 per cent above ground, cost RM4.2 billion to build. Construction began in August 2016 and was completed in September 2022. Linking the western and eastern parts of the Klang Valley, it spans 20.1km long in length and has a 55.4km effective length when its interchanges are included.
It has a total of 13 interchanges: Puncak Perdana, Alam Suria, Denai Alam, Kampung Melayu Subang, Pinggiran Subang, Subang 2, Subang Airport, RRIM (Kwasa Damansara), Surian, Seksyen 5 Kota Damansara, Sunway Damansara, Damansara Perdana, and Penchala.
Each lane on DASH is 3.5 metres wide while the emergency lane measures 3 metres wide. Travel time from both ends is estimated to be 30 minutes (60 minutes less compared to using existing roads) and is expected to help smoothen traffic along Persiaran Mokhtar Dahari by 39 per cent, Jalan Sungai Buloh by 33 per cent, and Persiaran Surian by 43 per cent.
DASH will feature two rest and service areas, and two lay-bys (side stops) in both directions.
The Firsts
DASH is the first Malaysian highway to feature a fully enclosed highway noise barrier that's 260m in length. This is located near a nexus of overpasses called the 'Spaghetti Link', which is a network of seven ramps to connect DASH with existing highways such as the Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP) and the Penchala Link with the Penchala Interchange.
The highway’s connectivity extends to other highways as well, namely the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE) and the SPRINT Expressway. It's also the first highway in the country to 'snake around buildings'.
Additionally, DASH boasts a number of eco-friendly initiatives such as solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems in various areas to recover resources and green turf roofs at the toll plaza operations buildings.
The Tech
DASH has been teched up with 2,441 LED streetlights,18 emergency telephones, 30 vehicle incident detection system (VIDS), and 10 variable message signs (VMS) along its alignment. It will be monitored by 37 high-definition closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs).
The three toll plazas—Denai Alam, RRIM (Kwasa Damansara), and Kota Damansara—are unconventional in their design, allowing operator Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings (Prolintas) to easily implement a multi-lane free flow (MLFF) highway tolling system in the future.
For the uninitiated, the MLFF is a barrier-free tolling system utilising a gantry structure without designated booths or lanes. This would reduce congestion at toll plazas, which are the most frequently congested areas along Malaysian roads and highways.
Commuters can enjoy toll-free rides on DASH until November 30, 2022. Beginning Dec 1, 2022, toll charges will come into effect. Tolls will be charged at three toll plazas: Denai Alam Toll Plaza, RRIM Toll Plaza (Kwasa Damansara), and Kota Damansara Toll Plaza. The toll rate for cars will be RM2.30, followed by lorries (RM4.60), trailers (RM6.90), taxis (RM1.20), and buses (RM2.30).
The total concession period for DASH will last for 55 years from December 25, 2014, to December 24, 2069.
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Lainey was the Digital Director of Tatler Malaysia. When not whiling away the hours watching documentaries, the latest K-drama, or reruns of Friends, she can be found indulging her wanderlust by stalking travel platforms or feeding her obsession with music. She loves animals, running, all things social media, a good conversation over coffee or soju or wine (often rambling on if nobody pulls the brakes on her), and is an avid fan of bursting-at-the-seams laughter.
