KUALA LUMPUR (May 26): West Coast Expressway (WCE) is bracing for a surge in daily traffic, exceeding 150,000 vehicles, in the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive period and extended weekend holiday that is expected to see heavy balik kampung movement and holiday travel.

To ensure smooth traffic flow, WCE said in a statement Tuesday that it plans to implement various operational measures during the peak holiday period, including temporarily suspending all construction and maintenance works involving lane closures along the highway — except in emergencies.

Assistance assets, including tow trucks, will be strategically deployed along the highway, while its Emergency Response Team (ERT) and patrol personnel will be reinforced to provide round-the-clock support.

WCE said these measures are aimed at ensuring that any road incidents can be handled efficiently while minimising disruptions to the main traffic flow.

“During this period of high traffic movement, we advise all users to plan their journeys ahead of time and prioritise safety at all times.

"With the support of digital facilities and operational preparedness, WCE remains committed to ensuring a safer and more efficient travel experience,” said WCE highway managing director Lyndon Alfred Felix.

To further enhance travel convenience, WCE encourages motorists to use the latest version of its mobile application, which offers route navigation, facility location information — including EV charging stations, motorcycle shelters and emergency telephones — as well as AI-assisted features and real-time traffic updates.

The expressway said it has also fully implemented the Touch ‘n Go PayDirect system at all toll plazas, enabling toll charges to be deducted directly from users’ e-wallet balances without the need for manual reloads.

West Coast Expressway, a 233km interstate highway linking Banting in Selangor to Taiping (Changkat Jering) in Perak, serves as an alternative route to ease congestion on existing major highways.

The highway's concession is held by West Coast Expressway Sdn Bhd, which is 80%-owned by Main Market-listed WCE Holdings Bhd (KL:WCE).