A stretch of a major expressway near Shah Alam has reopened in both directions after flash flooding forced closures and diversions in Malaysia’s Klang Valley.
Highway operator PLUS Malaysia said on 4 November that the New Klang Valley Expressway, known as the NKVE, had reopened to all vehicles between Shah Alam and Setia Alam, from kilometre 8.7 to kilometre 9.3. Its announcement followed a morning of disruption on the expressway and connecting roads after heavy overnight rain.
The reopening is a snapshot from the operator’s announcement, not a guarantee of present conditions. PLUS advised motorists to check its official traffic updates, app and electronic message boards for the latest weather, flooding and alternative-route information.
Closures and diversions
Earlier on 4 November, floodwater blocked all lanes in both directions at kilometre 9.1 of the NKVE between Shah Alam and Subang. PLUS had reported the flooding at 4.07am local time, while a later morning update said the section remained closed at 9.04am.
During the closure, southbound vehicles from Subang towards Shah Alam were diverted via the North-South Expressway Central Link, or ELITE. Vehicles travelling north from Bukit Raja towards Subang were directed off the NKVE at the Setia Alam interchange. Traffic from Setia Alam was diverted towards Bukit Raja.
The disruption also reached connections around the Shah Alam toll plaza. The route from the Guthrie Corridor Expressway towards the plaza was reported closed because of flooding. Ramps B, C and D at the Guthrie expressway’s NKVE interchange were also reported shut.
Conditions differed between individual links. Lanes at the Shah Alam interchange on the ELITE, from Seafield towards Setia Alam, had reopened at 6.43am, before the later announcement about the NKVE stretch. Drivers were advised to proceed with care. The separate updates should not be read as meaning every road in the area reopened at the same time.
Bridge collapse cuts another route
Elsewhere in Selangor, a bridge on Jalan Kubu Gajah over the Sungai Subang collapsed at about 2am on 4 November. The Petaling District Public Works Department said strong river currents had eroded the banks after heavy rain.
The collapse cut the main route between Kampung Kubu Gajah and Paya Jaras Hilir, and the road was closed to vehicles. Authorities introduced diversions for motorists travelling towards Merbau Sempak, Kubu Gajah and Paya Jaras Hilir.
The department said a temporary Bailey bridge would be installed as a medium-term measure to restore the connection. That was a planned response, not confirmation that the replacement was already in place.
Earlier flooding and response
The expressway disruption followed an earlier episode of flooding in nearby Kampung Melayu Subang. On 3 November, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim visited people at a temporary relief centre after flooding the previous day.
After the visit, Anwar called for work on flood-mitigation projects on the Sungai Buloh and Sungai Damansara to be accelerated. He said the projects had already been approved and were expected to cost nearly 700 million Malaysian ringgit. He also called for a progress report on federal measures.
The proposed work included river widening and additional retention ponds. The prime minister’s instruction did not establish that the work had been completed, or that it would prevent flooding at any particular road. For the expressway, the operator’s latest verified announcement concerned the reopening on 4 November; road users should check subsequent official updates before travelling.
Featured image: AI-generated illustration.
