Long-delayed road upgrade in Kota Kemuning to start soon

ROAD upgrading works at the first roundabout in Persiaran Anggerik Mokara in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam, are expected to begin by October following a nine-month delay.

The first phase of construction for Kota Kemuning’s traffic dispersal plan at the roundabout began last October and was scheduled to end in September this year.

However, the work hit a snag when Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) realised there were underground cables from various utility companies that needed to be relocated first.

MBSA Engineering Department deputy director Hanif Basree Abdul Rahman said the utility companies began removing the cables two months ago.

He said the contractors appointed to conduct the road-widening works were also waiting to begin their task as soon as possible.

“It is a running cost for us as well as we are paying them for the job. “We prefer to begin as soon as possible but were delayed due to the issue,” he added.

MBSA, he added, took time to negotiate with the utility companies, which also led to the delay.

The council will also pay the cost to relocate the Syabas pipes there as well.

For package one of Phase 1, that will cost RM5mil, the roads will be expanded from two to three lanes; and the slip roads at the roundabout will be upgraded, so road users can use them instead of having to go through the Kota Kemuning roundabout.

Package two, costing RM15mil, will see the construction of an access road from Persiaran Anggerik Mokara to the Kesas Highway, to ease traffic congestion from Kota Kemuning to Kesas and the LKSA (Kemuning–Shah Alam Highway).

In total, Phase 1 of the project will cost MBSA RM20mil.

There have been a number of delays for the long-awaited traffic dispersal plan for the Kota Kemuning township that has suffered from bad congestion at the roundabout heading in and out during peak hours.

Residents have long waited for the flyover along the main Persiaran Anggerik Mokara that was promised to them as part of the sales pitch when the development was coming up.

The flyover from Persiaran Mokara into Persiaran Anggerik Malaxis was initially part of the Kota Kemuning master plan but was not included in the draft plan.

Residents have been fighting for it to be built for a number of years now after the traffic congestion at Persiaran Anggerik Mokara increased immensely, causing massive congestion during peak hours.