Kuchai Link 2 to ease travel time

Kuchai Link 2 features a direct two-lane overpass from Jalan Kuchai Lama to Besraya, bypassing the Kuchai Lama Interchange and MEX (right).

THE newly-completed Kuchai Link 2 in Kuala Lumpur is expected to reduce traffic congestion at the Kuchai Lama Interchange by up to 15 minutes during peak hours.

The link features a direct two-lane overpass from Jalan Kuchai Lama to the Sungai Besi Highway (Besraya) heading towards the Balakong and Putrajaya direction, bypassing the Kuchai Lama Interchange and Maju Expressway (MEX).

The 1.17km structure starts near the UPA Press Sdn Bhd in Jalan Kuchai Lama and ends near Central Residence in Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur.

“The RM60mil project, fully borne by Besraya, included building an 830m-long overpass and upgrading Jalan Kuchai Lama, ” said Besraya (M) Sdn Bhd senior manager Nur Amani Zakaria.

“Once it is open, the existing Kuchai Lama Interchange will be reconfigured from a four-phase traffic light intersection to free-flow, ” she added.

The four-phase traffic light intersection serves those coming from Kuchai Lama, Salak Selatan, Sri Petaling and Kampung Malaysia or Salak South Garden.

Nur Amani said Kuchai Link 2 was scheduled to open tomorrow, subject to approvals from the Malaysian Highway Authority.

Once open, motorists from Sri Petaling heading towards Salak Jaya will have to make a U-turn at the Kuchai Entrepreneur Park traffic lights to get to their destination.

Nur Amani flanked by Besraya (M) Sdn Bhd corporate communications assistant manager Mohd Halmiee Saharudin (left) and engineering, maintenance and traffic senior manager Azarulizam Ismail looking at a map of the Besraya Highway as they stand at the start of to Kuchai Link 2.

Meanwhile, motorists from Salak Jaya heading towards Sri Petaling will also have to make a U-turn after Central Residence and journey on.

“Based on a study done by our traffic consultant at the end of 2016, the level of service for the Kuchai Lama Intersection at peak hour was Level F, ” said Nur Amani, who is also Kuchai Link 2 project manager.

“It will be improved to Level A when the link opens this year. It is projected to eventually drop to Level E in 2026 based on anticipated traffic increase.”

The level of service is a mechanism used to determine how well a transportation facility is operating from a traveller’s perspective.

It is usually defined by six levels of service with Level A representing the best operating conditions and Level F the worst.

Besides serving residents from nearby housing developments and an upcoming MRT station near UPA Press, Nur Amani said Kuchai Link 2 would also benefit motorists from Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya and Bangsar via the New Pantai Expressway headed towards Balakong, Putrajaya and Universiti Putra Malaysia via Besraya.

“The project was completed on Oct 30 after three years of construction.

There was a delay in its completion due to some realignment works and relocation of two existing pedestrian bridges, ” she said.

For details, call 1-800-88-0999 or visit https://ijmtolldiv.com/besraya/