Preventing RM47 Billion in Flood Losses - How SMART Tunnel and LLM Standards Inspire EVCC™ Pedas RSA

Image Credit : Minister of Works Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi with the leadership team of Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia during the SMART Tunnel operations visit, 13 August 2025

Since 2007, the Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) has prevented an estimated RM47 billion in economic losses by protecting Kuala Lumpur from devastating floods. This dual-purpose tunnel — the first of its kind in the world - combines a massive stormwater diversion system with a motorway, delivering two critical urban services in one infrastructure asset.

The SMART Tunnel’s success is the result of engineering vision, meticulous planning, and an unwavering commitment to public safety. These same qualities define Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia (LLM), the authority responsible for ensuring every expressway project in Malaysia meets world-class standards for quality, safety, and sustainability.

The upcoming EVCC™ Pedas RSA, a next-generation EV Hub PLUS Expressway targeting Platinum Rated GreenRE certification, draws valuable lessons from the SMART Tunnel’s design philosophy, operational adaptability, and resilience under challenging conditions.

SMART Tunnel — Engineering Innovation Under Extreme Constraints

The SMART Tunnel’s dual-function design is impressive, but what makes it truly remarkable is how it overcame a series of complex engineering and logistical challenges during its planning and construction phases.

1. Building Two Systems in One Structure

Designing a tunnel that could operate both as a stormwater channel and as a motorway required unprecedented structural integration. Engineers had to ensure that flood diversion chambers, road decks, ventilation systems, and safety features could coexist without compromising one another’s function.

2. Unpredictable Weather and Flood Risks During Construction

The tunnel alignment sits beneath Kuala Lumpur’s busiest districts, where heavy rains are frequent. Construction teams faced the constant challenge of mitigating water ingress, especially during monsoon seasons, while maintaining worksite safety.

3. Navigating Dense Urban Infrastructure

Boring a 4 km tunnel under the city meant working beneath existing utilities, building foundations, and transport corridors. This required precise geotechnical surveys, vibration control measures, and coordination with multiple city agencies to avoid service disruptions.

4. Safety and Ventilation Design for Dual Use

Unlike standard stormwater tunnels, the SMART Tunnel needed full-scale traffic ventilation systems, fire suppression mechanisms, and emergency evacuation routes that would remain operational even in partial flood diversion scenarios.

5. Integration of Real-Time Control Systems

SMART’s SCADA-based operations centre had to be designed from the outset to monitor both hydrological data (rainfall, water levels) and traffic data (vehicle flow, tunnel conditions) in real time. The integration of these systems was a world-first, requiring close collaboration between civil engineers, hydrologists, and traffic systems specialists.

Achievements of the SMART Tunnel

• Flood Loss Prevention: Over RM47 billion in potential damages avoided since 2007, protecting property, commerce, and critical city infrastructure.

• Traffic Relief: Functions as a 4 km motorway linking Sungai Besi to Kampung Pandan in non-flood conditions, significantly easing city congestion.

• Adaptive Operation: Three operating modes — full traffic, partial flood diversion with traffic, and full flood diversion — allow for seamless transition between uses.

• Global Recognition: Multiple international engineering awards for innovation and sustainability.

How EVCC™ Pedas RSA Adopts SMART Tunnel Principles

While EVCC™ Pedas RSA serves a completely different function, the SMART Tunnel’s core principles are directly applicable to its design and operation:

1. Multi-Function Purpose

• SMART Lesson: One structure can deliver multiple essential services.

• EVCC Application: Combines an EV Hub PLUS Expressway with a commercially vibrant destination accessible from both the expressway and local roads — maximising utility and reach.

2. Technology-Led Efficiency

• SMART Lesson: Integrated, real-time monitoring drives safety and performance.

• EVCC Application: IoT-based systems will track EV charger availability, energy usage, and facility operations to optimise user experience and sustainability performance.

  
  

3. Long-Term Economic & Social Value

• SMART Lesson: Lasting value is measured by sustained economic benefit and public service.

• EVCC Application: Generates ongoing commercial activity, supports local business ecosystems, and enhances travel comfort — all under LLM’s rigorous quality and safety oversight.

From Deep Underground to Highway Innovation

The SMART Tunnel stands as a testament to Malaysia’s ability to deliver world-class infrastructure that solves multiple problems, adapts to unpredictable challenges, and safeguards the economy.

By adopting its principles — multi-functionality, resilience, and advanced operational control — and working within the LLM framework for quality and sustainability, EVCC™ Pedas RSA aims to set a new benchmark for private-sector expressway developments in Malaysia, proving that roadside infrastructure can be as innovative and impactful as the country’s most iconic engineering feats.

#RM47BillionImpact #LLM #SMARTTunnel #EngineeringExcellence #EVCC #PedasRSA #EVCCPedasRSA #EVHubPLUSExpressway #PlatinumRatedGreenRE #ESG #SustainableInfrastructure #MalaysiaInfrastructure #FutureMobility #EVInfrastructure #GreenBuilding