Central Spine Road (CSR) (Malay: Lebuhraya Lingkaran Tengah Utama) or Kuala Krai–Kuala Pilah Highway, Federal Route 34, is a new toll-free expressway under construction in the center of Peninsular Malaysia. The 390 kilometres (240 miles) of highway is being built to eventually replace the mostly two-lane Malaysia Federal Route 8 (Gua Musang Highway) as well as Malaysia Federal Route 9 (Karak–Tampin highway). Construction of CSR began at Package 3, from Merapoh to Kampung Relong due to the fact that the old Gua Musang Highway passes through Chegar Perah, a section notorious for roadkill. The new highway has a long eco-viaduct built in this section. Package 5, which stretches from north Raub to Karak will be built next, which will connect it to the Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway (E8), bypassing Bentong and Mempaga. This will help detour traffic from the steep mountainous grade between Raub and Bentong.
History The construction of the highway is being undertaken in several phases: Phase 1 is a 51km stretch from Kuala Krai to Jambatan Sungai Lakit in Kelantan. Phase 2 is 63km long from Jambatan Sungai Lakit to Gua Musang in Kelantan Phase 3 is 107km long from Gua Musang to Kampung Relong in Pahang. Phase 4 is 56km long from Kampung Relong to Raub in Pahang Phase 5 is 54km long from Raub to Bentong Phase 6 is 47km long and connects Bentong and Simpang Pelangai. (this section is deferred) On 15 December 2016, section 3H (Kg. Kechur to Kg. Sbrg. Jelai) was opened to traffic. As of July 2024, Package One from Kuala Krai to the Sungai Lakit Bridge is 11.59% complete; Package Two from the Sungai Lakit Bridge to Gua Musang is 22.40% complete. Package Three from Gua Musang to Kampung Relong is 84.25% complete; Package Four from Kampung Relong to Raub is 63.69% complete.
Users can now access Package Five from Raub to Bentong, and Package Six from Bentong to the LPT Junction is 30.07% complete.
Features The Central Spine Road included these features as below. Four lanes, two on each sidehttp://ekas.doe.gov.my/eia/upload/micFile/MicrosoftWord-ES-F1.pdf A long eco-viaduct for wild animals crossing Some sections are concrete paved Kilometre markers along the road
In most sections, it is built under JKR R5 road standards, allowing maximum speed limit of up to 90km/h.
From Kampung Sungai Yu to Chegar Perah and from Chegar Perah to Bukit Tujuh, it overlaps Federal Route 8 Merapoh Highway.
There are no sections with motorcycle lanes.
Interchange lists
StateDistrictKmExitNameDestinationNotesThrough to Kota Bharu–Kuala Krai ExpresswayKelantanKuala KraiKuala KraiGua MusangBRSungai Lakit BridgeGua Musang Second East–West Highway – Cameron Highland, Ipoh, Tasik Kenyir, Kuala TerengganuMentaraPahangLipisMerapoh I/C Malaysia Federal Route 8 – Merapoh, Sungai Relau National ParkLILO Karak boundMerapoh I/C Malaysia Federal Route 8 – Merapoh, Sungai Relau National ParkLILO Kuala Krai bound--Kubang Rusa I/C Malaysia Federal Route 8 – Kampung Kubang Rusa, Kampung Sungai Yu, Sungai Yu Recreational CentreParclo B-2 interchangeBRSungai Yu Eco-Viaduct--Sungai Yu I/C Gua Musang Highway – Kampung Sungai Yu, Sungai Yu Recreation Area, MerapohTrumpet interchange--Chegar Perah Malaysia Federal Route 8 – Chegar PerahLILO Kuala Krai bound--Chegar Perah Malaysia Federal Route 8 – Chegar PerahLILO Karak boundU-TurnU-Turn – Chegar Perah, Sungai Yu, Kubang Rusa, Merapoh, Mentara, Gua Musang, Kuala Krai, Kota BharuU-Turn south boundUnder ConstructionFELDA TelangKampung KechurKampung Seberang JelaiKampung RelongRaub9Raub (U) I/C Malaysia Federal Route 8 – Raub, Sungai RuanDiamond interchange8Raub (S) I/C Malaysia Federal Route 1502 – Raub, FELDA Krau, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Raub Campus , Bukit FraserHalf diamond interchangeBentong7Bentong (U) I/C Malaysia Federal Route 1498 – Kampung Lebu, FELDA Lurah BilutDiamond interchange6Mempaga I/C Malaysia Federal Route 1498 – FELDA Mempaga – Kuala Lumpur, Genting Highlands, KuantanRoundabout interchange6ABentong (S) I/C Malaysia Federal Route 8 – BentongHalf diamond interchange809KLK I/C – Kuala Lumpur, Genting HighlandsTrumpet interchange, entry only westboundKampung TelemongMancis--Simpang Pelangai Malaysia Federal Route 9 – Karak, Mancis, Kuala Klawang, Kuala Pilah, SerembanT-junctionsNegeri SembilanKuala PilahPlanning
References
External links Central Spine Road on Facebook