Exploring the North-South Expressway Plus Expressway, Malaysia

The North-South Expressway is the major artery that links Bukit Kayu Hitam in the northernmost part of Malaysia, to Johor Bahru, at the south. Spanning a full length of 966km, the North-South Expressway provides a vital transportation link for the towns on the west coast of the peninsula. The North-South Expressway was planning in the mid-1970s.

Construction began in 1981. Segments of it were opened from 1988. The entire length was fully operational and opened to traffic on 8 September 1994 by then prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The expressway is managed by PLUS Expressways Berhad. The name PLUS is an acronym for Project Lebuhraya Utara Selatan. Among the major offshoots of the North-South Expressway are the Penang Bridge(http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysia/penang/penangbridge.htm), North Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) and North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE)The Menora Tunnel near Jelapang was the longest highway tunnel in Malaysia when it was completed. The tunnel measures 800 meters. The longest bridge on the expressway is Jambatan Sultan Azlan Shah across the Perak River. It is 300 meters long.