(Left) Motorists making a U-turn in front of Taman Lestari Perdana 8 (on the left) in Bandar Putra Permai, Seri Kembangan. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star
Taman Lestari Perdana 8 residents are dicing with danger during rush hour when they enter or exit their neighbourhood in Bandar Putra Permai, Seri Kembangan in Selangor.
The main road of Persiaran Lestari Perdana 5, which links Puncak Jalil and Taman Equine, is choked with traffic and motorists are using the break in the road divider to make U-turns.
The situation becomes worse when parents drop off and pick up their children across the road at nearby SJKC Bukit Serdang.
To help ease traffic congestion in the area, residents are urging the authorities to put up “no U-turn” signs at the road divider in front of the entrance to Taman Lestari Perdana 8.
“It is stressful for us when we want to exit or enter our housing area in the morning and afternoon.
“The queue of cars in the morning gets backed up, causing long delays for my wife who has to drive out to work in Putrajaya,” said resident Nor Rashid Osman, 52.
He said motorists coming from Puncak Jalil on Persiaran Lestari Perdana 5 should only turn right into the housing area.
“Those making U-turns here are causing traffic jams and the chaotic scene is an accident waiting to happen,” he told StarMetro.
Former Taman Lestari Perdana 8 Residents Association chairman Mohd Afizudin Said, 51, agreed that the stretch was a danger zone as cars barrelled down the road, especially from Taman Equine.
“The yellow box in front of the entrance to the housing area is supposed to prevent gridlock.
“But motorists stop to make U-turns and block the yellow box, worsening congestion here,” he said.
Manimaran Raju, a Taman Lestari Perdana 8 security guard, said he had to act as a traffic warden at times.
“It is stressful but we have to do it to keep the traffic flowing,” he said.
Afizudin suggested that the authorities design a sharp edge on the break in the road divider to prevent motorists from making a U-turn on this stretch or build a roundabout to replace the three-point junction near Lestari Perdana 7.
Taman Lestari Perdana 8 Residents Association chairman Nor Sham Zainuddin said he attended a meeting on May 23 with representatives from SJK (C) Bukit Serdang, the Serdang police station, Taman Puncak Jalil Residents Association and Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) Traffic Enforcement Department to discuss the congestion issue near the school.
“We are in the process of gathering suggestions from all affected parties.
“However, immediate action has been taken as well, with a two-week trial before the school holidays.
“A section near the school was closed with road barriers to stop motorists from making U-turns during pick-up and drop-off times.
“Another solution that was discussed during the meeting was for the school’s Parent-Teacher Association to engage Rela personnel to monitor the traffic in front of the school from June 13 when schools reopen,” said Nor Sham.
He highlighted that putting up no U-turn signs at the stretch needed approval from the authorities.
MBSJ did not comment on the issue as of press time.
