Fancy paver project hits bump over road safety

Road users have complained about the interlocking paver posing a safety hazard as it takes up half the public road in front of a house under renovation in Jalan 11/4, Petaling Jaya.

AN interlocking concrete paver built illegally in front of a house undergoing renovation in Section 11, Petaling Jaya, is raising safety concerns.

Some residents living along Jalan 11/4 have questioned the need to build the paver which acts like a haphazard speed bump.

It takes up half the road and poses a risk to motorists plying this route, especially at night.

T. Susila, 52, who visits her in-laws living in the area, said she drove across the paver a few times without slowing down as it was not visible at night.

“This has caused wear and tear to my car’s suspension. This is a public road and there should be signboards placed to alert the drivers.

“I have seen motorists swerving to the other side of the road to avoid the paver and risking collision with oncoming traffic,” she said.

According to another resident, Ratha Nair, 52, the interlocking concrete paver appeared about a month ago.

“My immediate neighbours and I were puzzled as to why this was done. It comes out to the middle of the road!

“It’s so dangerous as I’ve seen a few motorcyclists almost fall off when going over the hump.

“I have to be careful and slow down when driving so that my car’s shock absorbers don’t get damaged.

“Some nights I wake up with a jolt as I can hear loud noises when motorists, especially vans, speed by without noticing the paver as there are no warning signs for them to slow down,” she told StarMetro.

However, some residents think the paver stops motorists from speeding down the stretch.

Section 11 Residents Association president Hitesh Kothari said motorists coming from the top of Jalan 11/4 would now be compelled to slow down.

But he admitted that at night, people cannot see the paver and this could be dangerous”.

Hitesh said the association put in a request to Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) for a proper speed bump on Jalan 11/4 two years ago but no action was taken.

“We have had a few accidents involving motorcycles, especially e-hailing riders who often speed where the paver is located, and this is a slippery corner when they turn left into Jalan 11/3.

“Some drivers barrel down this road at 80km to 90km which is dangerous,” he said.

When contacted for comments, MBPJ said its Engineering Department had visited the site and found that the interlocking paver was built illegally on the road reserve.

“MBPJ has issued a notice requiring the designated contractor to demolish the interlocking paver immediately and repair the damaged road within 14 days,” said an MBPJ spokesperson.

The property owner confirmed that he had received a call from the city council about the illegal paver and said the contractor was in the process of removing it at press time.