Plans for the NKVE began in 1985 after the North–South Expressway was constructed and the Federal Highway had become a busing traffic during rush hour between Kuala Lumpur and Klang.

In July 2010, the operator, PLUS Expressways Berhad, announced that the government had awarded contracts to build a fourth lane on a stretch from Shah Alam to Jalan Duta.

A restricted route has been implemented on the New Klang Valley Expressway between Shah Alam and Jalan Duta during workdays or peak hours.

On 10 July 2005, a section of the Setia Alam flyover interchange – which was under construction then – collapsed, resulting in the death of two Bangladeshi workers and injuring seven others.

(Source: New Straits Times 21 July 2005) NKVE applied closed toll system in their entire route, implemented in all their access points where vehicles are charged according to distance travelled.