The Rawang Bypass FT37 project is a revival of the Kuala Lumpur Arah Serendah Expressway (KLAS), also known as the Kuala Lumpur–Rawang Expressway, which was scrapped due to the effect of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
The project was initially supposed to be constructed as a controlled-access expressway that would run along the Federal Route 1 corridor, with LeKLAS Sdn.
Bhd.
being appointed as its concessionaire and constructor.

The project was revived by the federal government in 2005 as the Rawang Bypass project due to severe traffic congestion in Rawang.
However, the Rawang Bypass project was constructed not as a controlled-access toll expressway but rather as a limited-access divided highway.
The contract of the RM628 million highway construction job was awarded to Syarikat Panzana Enterprise Sdn.
Bhd.
Construction of the Rawang Bypass FT37 commenced on 16 July 2005.

Construction of the Rawang Bypass project was divided into two stages.
The first stage was to upgrade the existing the 12.5-km two-lane Kuala Lumpur–Ipoh Road FT1 from Bandar Baru Selayang to Templer Park into a divided highway known as the Kuala Lumpur–Rawang Highway FT1, completed in 2007.
The second stage was to build a completely new bypass route that diverts the through traffic away from the town centre of Rawang.

The construction of the second stage took a longer time due to environmental concern towards the project.
Initially, the planned route was longer, would be built completely on ground level and might run through the Selangor State Heritage Park and Templer Park.
Due to protests from environmentalists and pressure from local residents who insisted on going ahead with the project despite possible environmental issues, the route was realigned and redesigned, and a 2.7-km viaduct was constructed along the border of the Selangor State Heritage Park to minimise the impact of the project towards the environment.
Through the viaduct construction approach, the affected forest area was reduced from 65 hectares to only 24 hectares.
The Rawang Bypass FT37 was completed on 21 November 2017, after 12 years of its construction.

Due to the very long construction period, a hoax claiming the opening ceremony of the Rawang Bypass FT37 to be held on 15 November 2017 went viral through social media on 13 November 2017, which was denied by the Malaysian Public Works Department.
Instead, the actual opening ceremony was held on 28 November 2017.
The Rawang Bypass FT37 project is a revival of the Kuala Lumpur Arah Serendah Expressway (KLAS), also known as the Kuala Lumpur–Rawang Expressway, which was scrapped due to the effect of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The project was initially supposed to be constructed as a controlled-access expressway that would run along the Federal Route 1 corridor, with LeKLAS Sdn. Bhd. being appointed as its concessionaire and constructor.
The project was revived by the federal government in 2005 as the Rawang Bypass project due to severe traffic congestion in Rawang. However, the Rawang Bypass project was constructed not as a controlled-access toll expressway but rather as a limited-access divided highway. The contract of the RM628 million highway construction job was awarded to Syarikat Panzana Enterprise Sdn. Bhd. Construction of the Rawang Bypass FT37 commenced on 16 July 2005.
Construction of the Rawang Bypass project was divided into two stages. The first stage was to upgrade the existing the 12.5-km two-lane Kuala Lumpur–Ipoh Road FT1 from Bandar Baru Selayang to Templer Park into a divided highway known as the Kuala Lumpur–Rawang Highway FT1, completed in 2007. The second stage was to build a completely new bypass route that diverts the through traffic away from the town centre of Rawang.
The construction of the second stage took a longer time due to environmental concern towards the project. Initially, the planned route was longer, would be built completely on ground level and might run through the Selangor State Heritage Park and Templer Park. Due to protests from environmentalists and pressure from local residents who insisted on going ahead with the project despite possible environmental issues, the route was realigned and redesigned, and a 2.7-km viaduct was constructed along the border of the Selangor State Heritage Park to minimise the impact of the project towards the environment. Through the viaduct construction approach, the affected forest area was reduced from 65 hectares to only 24 hectares. The Rawang Bypass FT37 was completed on 21 November 2017, after 12 years of its construction.
Due to the very long construction period, a hoax claiming the opening ceremony of the Rawang Bypass FT37 to be held on 15 November 2017 went viral through social media on 13 November 2017, which was denied by the Malaysian Public Works Department. Instead, the actual opening ceremony was held on 28 November 2017.
Rawang Bypass