It’s a tunnel used pretty much daily and has served plenty of Malaysian citizens since its inception in 2007. It’s none other than the SMART Tunnel.
Recently, CNN revealed a list for the top 10 greatest tunnels in the world. Among those listed are the Guoliang Tunnel in China, the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado and the Laerdal Tunnel in Norway. Our SMART Tunnel is also listed as one of the world’s top 10 tunnels.
The 9.7 kilometer-long tunnel was built to combat KL’s issue of flash floods. This is because SMART Tunnel operates in 3 ways, the CNN article explained. It serves as a road tunnel when there is no flooding. During floods, the rainwater can be channeled to a lower level and the upper level can remain open to motorists. Lastly, during flash floods, the tunnel closes off traffic and watertight gates will be opened so as to allow the floodwater to flow through.
Our SMART tunnel is also expected to prevent billions of dollars of possible flood damage as well as additional costs from traffic congestion.
Feature Image Credit: Amusing Planet
