Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway

The Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway is the main highway from Genting Sempah to Genting Highlands, Malaysia, a mountain resort and entertainment park. This is a private highway owned by Genting Berhad. The speed limit of the highway is 50 km/h (31 mph).

Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway
Route information
Length	17.6 km (10.9 mi)
Existed	1965–present
History	Access road completed in 1969, with further construction during 2001–2005
Major junctions
Summit end	Genting Highlands
Major intersections	East Coast Expressway FT 2 AH141 Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway FT 68 Federal Route 68 B66 Jalan Batang Kali–Genting Highlands FT 433 Jalan Gunung Ulu Kali
Downhill end	Genting Sempah
Location
Country	Malaysia
Primary destinations	Genting Highlands Gohtong Jaya Institut Aminuddin Baki Genting Sempah Batang Kali Ulu Yam
Highway system
Highways in Malaysia Expressways Federal State

Route background

The Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway begins at the downhill Genting Sempah near EXIT 803 on East Coast Expressway Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway (kilometre 17.6). Its terminus (kilometre zero) is at Genting Highlands summit.

History

The Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway used to be a private highway owned by Genting Highlands Resort. Construction of the access road to Genting Highlands began on 18 August 1965 and took four years to complete from Genting Sempah to Mount Ulu Kali's peak. The access road finally opened on 31 March 1969 in conjunction with the official laying of the foundation stone for the Genting Hotel (the then Highlands Hotel) by the then-Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. In 2001, a new bypass Chin Swee Bypass was designed as a downhill route from the summit to the downhill Chin Swee Temple was constructed and completed in 2005. The construction of the new bypass was regarded as one of the most astonishing engineering projects in Malaysia.

In 2021 and 2022, Genting Sempah was closed due to landslides caused by heavy rains that were exacerbated by climate change.

Notable events

• 18 August 1965 – Construction of the access road to Genting Highlands began.
• 31 March 1969 – The access road to Genting Highlands was opened.
• 30 June 1995 – 20 people were killed in a landslide at the Genting Highlands slip road near the Kuala Lumpur–Karak Highway.
• 16 July 1996 – A bus, ferrying a group of factory workers and their families on a holiday excursion, plunged into a 120-metre-deep ravine at km 1 near the Genting Highlands Resort, killing 17 of them. Six were children.
• 5 June 2004 – A retired businessman was killed when the bus he was skidded overturned and crashed at km 16 near Sri Layang roundabout.
• 31 March 2005 – A bus negotiating the sharp corner at km 18 at Gohtong Jaya roundabout skidded, hit the divider and landed on its side while coming down Genting Highlands. Fifteen passengers were injured.
• 13 April 2006 – A landslide occurred at 11 p.m. at km 3.8. The landslide at the new Chin Swee Bypass to Genting Highlands two days ago caused soil and boulders to cover the road, making it inaccessible to traffic. No one was apparently hurt.
• 22 September 2009 – Genting Malaysia Berhad has announced that soil erosion occurred at km 3.3 of a downhill road at the Genting Highlands Resort at 3.20 am. No one was apparently hurt.
• 29 October 2010 – Seven people were killed and more than 20 injured when the bus they were travelling in crashed at the slip roads for the Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway near Genting Sempah.
• 21 October 2011 – A man suffered light injuries when a landslide hit the front of his car at km 13.9 near Genting Highlands
• 21 August 2013 – At least 37 people were killed and 16 others injured when the bus carrying 53 passengers crashed into ravine at Km 3.5 of the Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway near Chin Swee Temple, Genting Highlands, Pahang. It was one of the worst road disasters in Malaysian history.
• 18 November 2014 – A landslide, caused by heavy rain, forced the closure of km 4.2 heading towards Genting Highlands.

Features

Dangerous curves

At least six spots along the 18 km road leading down from Genting Highlands have recorded horrific accident area involving buses and other heavy vehicles since 1989. 10% steep gradients, sharp bends and less-than-ideal road conditions can make it difficult for heavy vehicles to manoeuvre, and odds of losing control, skidding off the road and crashing, are high.

Separated one-way roads

The one-way road (formerly original dual-carriageway highway) from Chin Swee Temple was constructed as a climbing route to the summit. The other one-way road from the summit was designed as a downhill route to Chin Swee Temple.

Emergency escape ramp

Emergency escape ramps are also provided, especially on the one way downhill Genting Sempah bound lanes. An emergency escape ramp enables vehicles that are having braking problems to stop safely. It is typically a long, sand or gravel-filled lane adjacent to a road with a steep grade, and is designed to accommodate large, heavy vehicles. The deep gravel allows the heavy vehicle's momentum to be dissipated in a controlled and relatively harmless way, allowing the operator to stop it safely.

Viaducts at Chin Swee Bypass

Viaducts at the downhill road of Chin Swee Bypass leading Genting Sempah bound.

Le Tour de Langkawi

Genting Highlands serve as the finish point of a stage in the Tour de Langkawi cycling race. It is one of the longest (30 km) climbs featured in a cycling event.

Kilometre and Hectormetre markers

Kilometer and Hectormetre markers are placed along the road. It can be used for reporting accident locations.

List of junctions

Original route

Km	Exit	Interchange	To	Remarks
	1	Genting Sempah Genting Sempah A Roundabout 600m above sea level	803A East Coast Expressway FT 2 AH141 Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway (Touch 'n Go and SmartTAG ETC only) West Duta–Ulu Klang Expressway FT 2 AH141 Duta–Ulu Klang Expressway - Kuala Lumpur, Gombak, Ipoh, Klang FT 2 FT 28 AH141 Gombak, Ulu Klang, Seremban	Interchange
	2	Genting Sempah Genting Sempah B Interchange 648m above sea level	East Federal Route FT 68 - Bukit Tinggi, Janda Baik, Gombak Genting Sempah Rest and Service Area V 803A East Coast Expressway FT 2 AH141 Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway (Touch 'n Go and SmartTAG ETC only) East East Coast Expressway AH141 East Coast Expressway - Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan FT 34 Central Spine Road - Raub, Gua Musang, Kota Bharu FT 8 Federal Route 8 - Bentong	Interchange West bound only Engage lower gear
East Coast Expressway FT 2 AH141 Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway Start/End of expressway (Touch 'n Go and SmartTAG ETC only) ANIH Berhad border limit
Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway JKR and Genting Berhad border limit
		Police post 1 684m above sea level		Police checkpoint
Police post 1
Genting Highlands
		Hydrophonic farm 797m above sea level		Genting Sempah bound Engage lower gear
		Roundabout 956m above sea level		Roundabout Genting Sempah bound Engage lower gear
		V ---m above sea level	V
		U-Turn 861m above sea level	U-Turn
	3	Gohtong Jaya South Interchange 870m above sea level	Northwest Gohtong Jaya Town Centre Goh Tong's Villa (Lim Goh Tong's private residence) Genting Skyway cable car stations	Interchange with one ramp underpass to Gohtong Jaya from Genting Highlands
		U-Turn 861m above sea level	U-Turn
		Genting Permai Resort 888m above sea level	Genting Permai Resort Highlands International Boarding	From Genting Highlands
18	4	Gohtong Jaya Roundabout 925m above sea level	West B66 Jalan Batang Kali–Genting Highlands - Batang Kali, Ulu Yam FT 1 Malaysia Federal Route 1 - Ipoh Genting Skyway cable car stations East Jalan Sri Layang Institut Aminuddin Baki Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Layang	Roundabout
Genting Highlands main entrance Police post 2
17.9		Genting Highlands main entrance Police post 2 930m above sea level		Police checkpoint
		Gohtong Memorial Park 966m above sea level	Gohtong Memorial Park Lim Goh Tong's grave
16		---m above sea level
15.3	5	Awana Roundabout 1045m above sea level	North Awana Skyway cable car stations Genting Highlands Premium Outlets V Masjid Yayasan Mohammad Noah South Awana Genting Highlands Golf & Country Resort	Roundabout
12.9		UPM Field Station 1227m above sea level		Genting Sempah bound Engage lower gear
		V ---m above sea level	V	Genting Sempah bound Engage lower gear
		Chin Swee Temple Separation 1275m above sea level	Genting Highlands Summit Bound Genting Highlands (One-way Genting Highlands bound)	One-way separated carriageway Genting Sempah bound Engage lower gear

Genting Highlands Climbing Route

(Climbing route, One-way Genting Highlands bound)

Km	Exit	Interchange	To	Remarks
		V ---m above sea level	V	Start of the one-way bound
	6A	Chin Swee Temple Exit 1446m above sea level	Chin Swee Temple Lim Goh Tong's statue Chin Swee Temple's Awana Skyway cable car stations V	RIRO exit
		V ---m above sea level	V
		Cradle Rock ---m above sea level	Cradle Rock V
		Heliport 1485m above sea level	Heliport Open car park
1		V ---m above sea level	V
		Ria Apartments 1671m above sea level	Ria Apartments
		Genting Highlands police stations 1708m above sea level	Genting Highlands police stations
Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway End of one-way bound
0.1		Genting Highlands Genting Highlands Summit Kayangan Apartments junctions 1728m above sea level	Northwest One Way Kayangan Apartments Genting Highlands fire stations Genting Highlands staff quarters	End of the one-way bound Junctions
0		Genting Highlands Genting Highlands Summit 1760m above sea level	Genting Highlands Genting Grand First World Hotel Maxims Hotel Resort World Hotel Theme Park Hotel Maxims Hotel Crockfords Hotel First World Plaza Sky Avenue Mall Skytropolis Funland Casino de Genting SkyCasino Genting Highlands International Convention Centre Genting International Showroom 20th Century Fox World

Chin Swee Bypass

(Downhill route, One-way Genting Sempah bound)

Km	Exit	Interchange	To	Remarks
0		Genting Highlands Genting Highlands Summit 1760m above sea level
		---m above sea level		Start of the one-way bound
Genting Sempah–Genting Highlands Highway Start of one-way bound
		Petron layby 1682m above sea level	Petron
		Pelangi Hotel one way 1679m above sea level	West One Way Pelangi Hotel Genting Highlands Hotel Casino de Genting Genting Highlands International Convention Centre First World Plaza First World Hotel Genting Theme Park 20th Century Fox World	One way directional Y junctions
		---m above sea level		Start/End of the single carriageway
		Heliport ---m above sea level	Heliport Open car park
		TNB substation 1656m above sea level	TNB substation
		1650m above sea level		Start/End of the single carriageway
1	7	Mushroom Park Roundabout 1652m above sea level	North FT 433 Jalan Gunung Ulu Kali Gunung Ulu Kali Mushroom Park Batik Centre	Roundabout
1.6		Emergency escape ramp 1634m above sea level	Emergency escape ramp	Engage lower gear
		Viaduct ---m above sea level		Engage lower gear
		Emergency escape ramp 1606m above sea level	Emergency escape ramp	Engage lower gear
	6B	Chin Swee Temple Exit 1445m above sea level	Chin Swee Temple Lim Goh Tong's statue Chin Swee Temple's Awana Skyway cable car stations V	RIRO exit Engage lower gear
		Viaduct ---m above sea level		Engage lower gear
3.4		Emergency escape ramp 1296m above sea level	Emergency escape ramp	Engage lower gear
4		Viaduct ---m above sea level		Engage lower gear
		Chin Swee Temple Separation 1282m above sea level	(Continued to the original route)	End of the one-way bound One-way separated carriageway Engage lower gear