Overview
Construction of the expressway will be divided into two phases. Phase 1 involves the stretch between Tanjung Karang and Banting where construction will begin in June 2008 and be completed by 2011. Phase 2 involves the stretch between Taiping and Sabak Bernam where construction will begin in 2010 and be completed by 2013. The stretch between Sabak Bernam and Tanjung Karang will be on the existing stretch of Federal route which will be upgraded as part of the expressway. The expressway will have a closed toll system like North-South Expressway.
The highway will cost about RM 4.6 billion, where RM3.6 billion will be construction costs. The concessionaire company is planning to issue bonds in 2009. Construction has been delayed to 2009 because of changes in alignment and costing. It is expected to complete in 2012.
On 12 November 2008, the project was shelved as terms of the current deal could not be finalized within a 15-month time frame. A new tender have to be open out.
On 26 January 2012, Europlus Group Bhd officially obtain the MYR 7.07 billion tender to build the highway from the government. The highway will have a total length of 316 km, where 92 km will be toll free. The highway will be built on the build-operate-transfer concept with a concession period of 60 years.
Read more about this topic: West Coast Expressway