Kimanis–Keningau Highway

Kimanis–Keningau Highway is a state highway in Sabah, Malaysia, connecting the town of Kimanis to Keningau. It also acts as an alternative for Federal Route 500 from Kota Kinabalu to Tenom which is nowadays somewhat under-use. The 53-kilometre (33 mi) highway began as a main logging road before being upgraded to a full two-lane highway.[1] The highway was opened to traffic in 2006.

Kimanis–Keningau Highway
Route information
Length53 km (33 mi)
Major junctions
West endKimanis
Major intersections FT 1 Federal Route 1
FT 500 Malaysia Federal Route 500
Interior North-South Highway
East endKeningau
Location
CountryMalaysia
Primary
destinations		Crocker Range National Park
Kota Kinabalu (from Keningau/Tenom)
Keningau (main destination)
Tenom (via Keningau)
Highway system
One of the very steep slopes along the Kimanis-Keningau Highway

Even though the highway is relatively short and is in very good condition, it is notorious for its very steep gradients along the way, ranging from 10% to about 25%, making the Kimanis–Keningau Highway as the steepest highway in Malaysia.[2][3] As a result, climbing road lanes are provided at steep sections.

A gravity hill induced by optical illusion is located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Keningau. It is reported that at the gravity hill, there is a slope which appears as a downhill slope, but is actually an uphill slope.[1]

Rest and restaurant stops

There are at least three popular stops along the highway:

  • Jabatan Perhutanan Station
  • Dimie Mountain resort
  • Oyong Restaurant

These stops are popular for motorists especially lorries, buses and tourists. The punishing steep gradient made it necessary for the lorries to make frequent stops and replenish their water-cooling tanks. From the high vantage point of Dimie Resort there is a panaromic view of the Brunei Bay and the Klias Bay to the west and glimpse of the Keningau Plain. The Liawan river and the Pampang river, which flow into the Keningau Plain, arise from the divide provided by the Crocker Range.

List of interchanges
KmExitInterchangeToRemarks
Kimanis FT 1 Federal Route 1

North
Kota Kinabalu
Papar

South
Beaufort
Sindumin		Roundabout
Shell Layby ShellKeningau bound
Bongawan EstateNorth
Papar

South
Bongawan		Roundabout
Kimanis–keningau Highway R&R Complex R&R complex
Kimanis bound
Layby Keningau bound
-- m above sea levelKimanis bound,
engage lower gear
West Coast Division
Papar district border
West Coast-Interior division border
Interior Division
Keningau district border
-- m above sea levelKeningau bound,
engage lower gear
Crocker Range National Park
-- m above sea level
Jalan Masak RoundaboutSouth
Jalan Patikang Ulu
Tenom		Roundabout
Keningau FT 500 Federal Route 500
Interior North-South Highway


Northeast
Tambunan
Ranau
Kota Kinabalu

Southwest
Tenom
Melalap
Sook		Roundabout

See also

Notes
  • Many local people especially Keningau compare that Kimanis–Keningau Highway is like Mount Haruna or manga series Initial D under the fictional name Akina (秋名) because of their structure road is almost same with Mount Haruna.

References
  1. "Titik Misteri, Bukit Graviti dan Bukit Magnetic" (in Malay). Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  2. "Kimanis-Keningau Road". Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  3. Zulnizam Shahrani (28 December 2011). "Ekspedisi solo Kuala Lumpur – Borneo penuh kepuasan" (in Malay). Berita Harian. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
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