Road closure a safety precaution, says highway concessionaire

Residents and businesses affected by the road closure along Jalan Alam Damai have been provided with alternative routes. — Filepic

THE road closure along Jalan Alam Damai, Cheras in Kuala Lumpur is a necessary safety precaution as well as to prevent any untoward incidents during the construction of Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) project, says the highway concessionaire.

Projek Lintasan Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Sdn Bhd said alternative routes were identified and had been communicated to the affected residents and business owners before the closure took effect.

The company said this in response to a StarMetro report last Friday that the closure of a portion of Jalan Alam Damai had severely affected businesses at the Damai 23 commercial centre.

However, it did not indicate how much longer the closure would last.

“In view of the current progress, the road will be accessible to the public after scheduled works are completed.

“For the record, the road closure has been approved by relevant authorities such as the Malaysian Highway Authority, Public Works Department and Kuala Lumpur City Hall,” the company said in a statement.

It added that a series of engagements with business owners and residents who were directly affected by the closure had also been done prior to the road closure.

“In response to the issue of inadequate flagmen and signage, SUKE continuously receives feedback from the public and has been enhancing safety precautions at the site.

“Over the years, SUKE has always been practising vigilance in putting public safety and convenience first.

“Hence, any complaints and disgruntlement are seen as a serious matter,” it said.

Damai 23 business owners said they had lost customers since a part of Jalan Alam Damai was closed for the construction of SUKE early this year.

The portion of that road that is closed runs directly in front of the shops and is inaccessible from Jalan 1/144a, requiring motorists to make a wider loop to get to the commercial area.

It was recently reported that the highway was expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2022, with an estimated cost of RM10bil.