http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file...084&sec=centralMOTORISTS will see smoother traffic in numerous areas in the Klang Valley following the completion of two projects before the year is out.
Frequent users of the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) are the first to get relief with the opening of a dedicated two-lane flyover that is expected to improve traffic flow at the Puchong Intan interchange.
Lingkaran Trans Kota Sdn Bhd (Litrak) chief executive officer Sazally Saidi said the 550m bridge would be opened at about 1am tomorrow and would help alleviate the evening peak-hour congestion for traffic heading to Putrajaya and Shah Alam.
This is it: Sazally Saidi pointing out the new two-lane flyover on the map.
“There are about 85,000 users on this stretch of the LDP and we estimate about 37,000 will use this bridge to get to Putrajaya. This will separate the cars going towards Putrajaya from those going to Shah Alam and it will reduce the problem of traffic weaving between the lanes,” he said.
The RM105mil bridge is the third and last phase of Package 5A, one of the three packages under a RM312mil highway-enhancement project announced in 2009.
“To eliminate any bottleneck after this bridge is opened, we upgraded the traffic-light intersection at the Puchong Perdana interchange during the first phase and widened the existing main line from three to four lanes between Kampung Baru Puchong and Puchong Perdana during the second phase.
“We cannot expect the traffic flow to be smooth immediately. It usually takes about a week for motorists to get used to a new system,” said Sazally.
Still in progress : The Bukit Jalil Expressway and Serdang Raya intersection project, which was supposed to be ready in December 2008.
He said Package 5C of the enhancement project involved upgrading the toll plaza at Sunway for traffic heading to Puchong, which was expected to be completed in early 2013 to complement the completed Package 5A.
Package 5B involves the Kota Damansara stretch of the LDP, where a dedicated lane will be built for cars from Persiaran Surian to Kepong.
In Seri Kembangan, the authorities said the upgrading work in Jalan Serdang Raya intersection and Bukit Jalil Expressway would be completed by Nov 7.
Serdang parliamentary constituency coordinator Datuk Yap Pian Hon said the RM14.3mil project funded by the Federal Government was aimed at solving traffic woes in the Serdang Raya area.
“The project began on Dec 1, 2006 and was supposed to have been completed in December 2008. However, the previous contractor faced some technical problems in delivering on time and the Public Works Department (JKR) was forced to appoint another company, Seroja Anggerik Development Sdn Bhd to take over the project.
“Seroja Anggerik has agreed to deliver the project by Nov 7, in time for Hari Raya Haji,” Yap said.
He denied claims by certain quarters that the Federal Government had to pump in additional costs to get the new contractor to complete the job, saying the cost of completing the project remained the same
He also said Serdang MCA had sent an appeal to the Works Ministry to study the traffic system along the Serdang Raya main road as the number of accidents had increased over the years.
“Now that there is a flyover above the main road, the 5km stretch at the end of the flyover is prone to accidents.
“We need to look into the traffic system as motorists on the flyover do not slow down when they get onto the main road.
“We need JKR to look into this matter with the Subang Jaya Muni-cipal Council as soon as possible as there are many junctions along this stretch,” Yap said, adding that the authorities should consider installing speed breakers and humps to prevent motorists from speeding.