SMART Tunnel
Template:Malaysian expressway routebox
The "Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel" or "SMART Tunnel", SMART Tunnel is a storm drainage and road structure in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a major national project in the country. It is the longest stormwater tunnel in South East Asia and second longest in Asia.
The main objective of this tunnel is to solve the problem of flash floods in Kuala Lumpur and also to reduce traffic jams along Jalan Sungai Besi and Lok Yew flyover at Pudu during rush hour. There are two components of this tunnel, the stormwater tunnel and motorway tunnel.
It begins at Kampung Berembang lake near Klang River at Ampang and ends at Taman Desa lake near Kerayong River at Salak South. The project is led by the government, including Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia (Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran = JPS) and also a company joint venture pact between Gamuda Berhad and Malaysian Mining Corporation Berhad (MMC).
History
Construction of the tunnel began in 2003. Two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) were used, including Tuah on north side and Gemilang on south side. The two TBMs commenced digging in 2004.
On April 22, 2006, the Gemilang machine completed digging on the south side at the Taman Desa outfall, while the Tuah machine completed digging in the Kampung Berembang area in 2 April 2007.
The motorway sections on the SMART system was officially opened at 3:00PM, 14 May 2007, after multiple delays.[1] [2]
Meanwhile, the stormwater sections on the SMART system began operations at the end of June 2007.
How SMART Tunnel works
First mode (Normal conditions)
The first mode, under normal conditions where there is no storm, no flood water will be diverted into the system.
Second mode (Most storms)
When the second mode is activated, flood water is diverted into the bypass tunnel in the lower channel of the motorway tunnel. The motorway section is still open to traffic at this stage.
Third mode (Major storms)
When this mode is in operation, the motorway will be closed to all traffic. After making sure all vehicles have exited the motorway, automated water-tight gates will be opened to allow flood waters to pass through. The motorway will be reopened to traffic within 48 hours of closure.
Tunnel safety
Ventilation or escape shafts at 1 km intervals provide ventilation within the motorway. To protect the ventilation system during floods, the system consist of a series of shafts; each containing an exhaust and fresh air injector. This design enables fans situated outside the SMART Tunnel to create a longitudinal flow in the tunnel between the shafts that permits the air in the tunnel to be continuously renewed and to enable extraction of exhaust fumes. The feature also allows smoke control in the event of a fire. The SMART Tunnel is also equipped with fire-fighting, telecommunication and surveillance equipments at 1 km intervals.
Technical specifications
Stormwater tunnel
- Construction cost: RM1,887 million (US$514.6 million)
- Stormwater tunnel length: 9.7 km (6.0 mi)
- Diameter: 13.2 m (43.3 ft) (outer diameter)
- Tunnelling method: Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)
- TBM type: Slurry shield
Motorway tunnel
- Motorway tunnel length: 4 km (2.5 mi)
- Structure type: Double Deck
- Ingress and egress: 1.5 km (0.93 mi) at Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Imbi
- Length: 1.4 km (0.87 mi) at Jalan Tun Razak
- Links: 1.6 km (1 mi) at Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Expressway Links: City Centre near Kg. Pandan Roundabout KL-Seremban Expressway near Sungai Besi Airport
Features
- Longest tunnel in Southeast Asia and Malaysia.
- 9.7km (6.03 miles) stormwater by-pass tunnel.
- 4km (2.49 miles) double-deck motorway within stormwater tunnel.
- The motorway tunnel is suitable for light vehicles only. Motorcycles and heavy vehicles are not allowed.
- Ingress and egress connections to the motorway tunnel linking the southern gateway to the city centre.
- Holding basin complete with diversion and tunnel intake structures.
- Storage reservoir and a twin-box culvert to release flood discharge.
- State-of-the-art operations control room equipped with the latest systems in operations management, surveillance and maintenance of the SMART system.
- Custom-made fire engine units consisting two modified Toyota Hilux, parked at two different locations for quick access to the tunnel in case of fire at both carriageways[3].
Toll rates
Class | Type of vehicles | Rate (in Malaysian ringgit (RM)) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Private car | RM2.00 | Touch 'n Go and SmartTAG are also available at this toll plaza. |
4 | Taxis | RM2.00 | Toll charges are paid by passengers only. |
FM Radio channels available in the tunnel
- Klasik Nasional FM 87.7 MHz
- KL FM 97.2 MHz
- Muzik FM 95.3 MHz
- Hot FM 97.6 MHz
- Fly FM 95.8 MHz
- hitz.fm 92.9 MHz
- Traxx FM 90.3 MHz
List of interchanges
East–West Link Expressway Salak Expressway directions
Km | Exit | Interchange | To | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|
East–West Link Expressway SALAK EXPRESSWAY SOUTHEAST Cheras NORTHWEST Petaling Jaya Shah Alam |
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East–West Link Expressway AH2 KUALA LUMPUR-SEREMBAN EXPRESSWAY MetaCorp border limit
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SMART Tunnel SMART TUNNEL SMART border limit
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SMART Tunnel operation office | TnG TAG Customer Service Centre SMART Tunnel operation office |
South bound on Cheras, Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam stretches only | ||
SMART toll plaza SMART This template must be substituted. Replace {{Requested move ...}} with {{subst:Requested move ...}}. Touch 'n Go SmartTAG SmartTAG Touch 'n Go This template must be substituted. Replace {{Requested move ...}} with {{subst:Requested move ...}}. Open toll system Pay toll
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East–West Link Expressway Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Expressway directions
Km | Exit | Interchange | To | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|
SOUTH East–West Link Expressway AH2KUALA LUMPUR-SEREMBAN EXPRESSWAY East–West Link Expressway Kompleks Sukan Negara Shah Alam ExpresswayKlang North–South Expressway Southern Route AH2NORTH-SOUTH EXPRESSWAY SOUTHERN ROUTE North–South Expressway Central LinkKuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) North–South Expressway Southern Route AH2Seremban North–South Expressway Southern Route AH2Melaka North–South Expressway Southern Route AH2Johor Bahru |
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East–West Link Expressway AH2 KUALA LUMPUR-SEREMBAN EXPRESSWAY MetaCorp border limit
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SMART Tunnel SMART TUNNEL SMART border limit
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SMART Tunnel operation office | TnG TAG Customer Service Centre SMART Tunnel operation office |
South bound on Cheras, Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam stretches only | ||
SMART toll plaza SMART This template must be substituted. Replace {{Requested move ...}} with {{subst:Requested move ...}}. Touch 'n Go SmartTAG SmartTAG Touch 'n Go This template must be substituted. Replace {{Requested move ...}} with {{subst:Requested move ...}}. Open toll system Pay toll
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Motorway tunnel
Km | Exit | Interchange | To | Remarks |
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MOTORWAY TUNNEL Dry sections Start/End of tunnel Maximum height 2 m Speed limit 60 km/h
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Template:MES-EXIT | Motorway Tunnel Dry sections Tunnel exit south bound |
Wrong template: use {{MES-E|route number without "E"}} SMART Tunnel Operation Office East–West Link Expressway SALAK EXPRESSWAY East–West Link ExpresswayCheras East–West Link ExpresswayPetaling Jaya East–West Link ExpresswayShah Alam Wrong template: use {{MES-E|route number without "E"}} East–West Link Expressway AH2 KUALA LUMPUR-SEREMBAN EXPRESSWAY East–West Link Expressway AH2Kompleks Sukan Negara Shah Alam ExpresswayKlang North–South Expressway Southern Route AH2NORTH-SOUTH EXPRESSWAY SOUTHERN ROUTE North–South Expressway Central LinkKuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) North–South Expressway Southern Route AH2Seremban North–South Expressway Southern Route AH2Melaka North–South Expressway Southern Route AH2Johor Bahru |
Tunnel interchange | |
MOTORWAY TUNNEL Dry sections
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MOTORWAY TUNNEL Water gate boundary
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MOTORWAY TUNNEL Wet sections
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Motorway Tunnel Wet sections |
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MOTORWAY TUNNEL Wet sections
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MOTORWAY TUNNEL Water gate boundary
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MOTORWAY TUNNEL Dry sections
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Template:MES-EXIT | Motorway Tunnel Dry sections Tunnel exit north bound |
Wrong template: use {{MES-E|route number without "E"}} SULTAN ISMAIL LINK TUNNEL JALAN DAVIS KUALA LUMPUR INNER RING ROAD Jalan Imbi Jalan Sultan Ismail Jalan Bukit Bintang Wrong template: use {{MES-E|route number without "E"}} KUALA LUMPUR MIDDLE RING ROAD I JALAN TUN RAZAK (Jalan Pekeliling) Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) Ampang |
Tunnel interchange Lower floor | |
MOTORWAY TUNNEL Dry sections Start/End of tunnel Maximum height 2 m Speed limit 60 km/h
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SMART Tunnel SMART TUNNEL SMART border limit
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KUALA LUMPUR MIDDLE RING ROAD 1 DBKL border limit
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NORTH KUALA LUMPUR MIDDLE RING ROAD I JALAN TUN RAZAK (Jalan Pekeliling) Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) Ampang |
Sultan Ismail link tunnel
Km | Exit | Interchange | To | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|
Template:MES-EXIT | Sultan Ismail link tunnel Dry sections Tunnel entry south bound |
MOTORWAY TUNNEL East–West Link ExpresswayCheras East–West Link ExpresswayPetaling Jaya East–West Link Expressway AH2Kompleks Sukan Negara North–South Expressway Central LinkKuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) North–South Expressway Southern Route AH2Seremban North–South Expressway Southern Route AH2Melaka North–South Expressway Southern Route AH2Johor Bahru |
Tunnel interchange Upper floor | |
MOTORWAY TUNNEL Dry sections Start/End of tunnel Maximum height 2 m Speed limit 60 km/h | ||||
SMART Tunnel SMART TUNNEL SMART border limit
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JALAN DAVIS DBKL border limit
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NORTHWEST SULTAN ISMAIL-KAMPUNG PANDAN LINK (JALAN DAVIS) KUALA LUMPUR INNER RING ROAD Jalan Imbi Jalan Sultan Ismail Jalan Bukit Bintang |
Tunnel in popular culture
- The SMART Tunnel was featured in an episode of Extreme Engineering on the Discovery Channel.
- The SMART Tunnel was featured in an episode of Truly Malaysia on the National Geographic Channel.
- The SMART Tunnel was featured in an episode of Man Made Marvels on the Science Channel.
See also
- Channel Tunnel
- Seikan Tunnel
- Transatlantic tunnel
- Gibraltar Tunnel - proposed
- Bering Strait bridge - proposed