Works Minister Datuk Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi today officially declared Section 11 (South Taiping Interchange to Beruas Interchange) of the WCE ready for road users.
Also present was Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
The newly opened WCE Section 11 involves a stretch of 35.5 km, providing direct connectivity for road users from the PLUS highway in Changkat Jering to Beruas, Perak.
Motorists will have access to Section 11 starting from 12:01am on March 12. No toll will be collected until May 11.
The opening of WCE Section 11 is expected to reduce travel time from Changkat Jering to Beruas to just 20 minutes, compared to the previous 55 minutes via the existing route.
This time reduction will undoubtedly result in fuel cost savings for users travelling from southern Perak to Selangor, serving as an alternative to the North-South Expressway and reducing congestion, especially during peak hours, festive seasons, and school holidays.
It also provides easier access for users to attractive tourist destinations in the state, such as Taiping Zoo, Taiping Lake Gardens, Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, Perak Museum, Remis Beach, Pangkor Island, and adds value to the Visit Perak 2024 campaign and the 150th anniversary celebration of Taiping.
Furthermore, the WCE plays a role in stimulating the economic development of the local communities along the west coast of the peninsula, renowned for seafood and marine produce.
This simultaneously contributes to a greater socio-economic impact on the states of Perak and Selangor through enhanced access from the highway to ports.
It will also become a primary route for logistics activities directly related to ports such as Lumut Port, Teluk Intan Port, and Klang Port.
With the opening of WCE Section 11, it provides a more comfortable alternative for users traveling north with a smoother and less hilly route.
This stretch also enhances connectivity between the highway networks for user convenience, complementing the overall WCE network in Perak, bringing significant benefits to users, particularly in traffic distribution, time savings, travel cost savings (fuel), and comfortable and safe driving.
