Konsortium Lebuhraya Butterworth-Kulim (KLBK) Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of PLUS Expressways Berhad ("PLUS Expressways") has been awarded the concession and contract to construct and operate the highway of dual two (2) lane carriageway with separate motorcycle tracks and related highway facilities for the 16.78 km Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE). The concession period is for thirty-two (32) years (June 1994 tdo June 2026, including 2 years construction period), after which the highway will be transferred to the Government.
Pengurusan Projek Daya Sdn Bhd (PPD) was appointed as the Project Manager by KLBK and Jurutera Perunding Daya (JPD) as a Designer and Supervising Consulting Engineers. Meanwhile, Commerce International Merchant Bankers Berhad (CIMB) was appointed as the Lead Arranger for Loan Syndication and subsequently Technocon Acer was engaged to carry out the Traffic Forecast for the cash flow.
The construction of BKE started in December 1994 and completed in September 1996 with a cost of RM250 million. It was officially opened on 15 November 1996. BKE links the new port, North Butterworth Cargo Terminal (NBCT) on the west with Kulim High Technology Park (KHTP) on the east, with just twenty (20) minutes of traveling time, compared to more than forty-five (45) minutes using the old route via Bukit Mertajam. Furthermore, it will form part of the new East Coast Highway for the northern region. Then, the traveling time between Butterworth and Grik will be just over an hour, a saving of approximately one and a half (1½) hours. Moreover, it will also serve as a faster route to Pengkalan Hulu and Bentong, Thailand as well as several tourist attraction areas, such as Mengkuang Dam, Latar Bukit Hijau, Latar Bayu, Gunung Pulai and Junjong waterfall.
Geographically, the terrain between KM 5.00 (start point) and KM 11.00 is rather flat, passing through paddy field areas. From KM 11.00 to KM 19.00, the terrain is slightly undulating, where cut and fill slopes are common features. The terrain is again flat from KM 19.00 to KM 21.78 (end point), mainly passing through the estates and developing residential areas.
Geometrically, there are four (4) grades separated interchanges and one (1) at grade interchange along BKE. Moreover, there are nine (9) reinforced concrete bridges (three (3) of those are river bridges, ie. Sungai Mengkuang, Sungai Kulim and Sungai Karangan, whereas the rest are bridges over local roads or railway track). On the other hand, the facilities provided at BKE meant for the convenience of users are the Electronic Payment System (Smart Tag and Touch 'n Go) at both Kubang Semang and Lunas Toll Plazas, Emergency Telephone System at 1 KM interval, twenty-four (24) hours Patrolling Squad, Petrol Stations at both bounds and the fully integrated Elevated Rest & Service Area.
