Residents want part of Lebuh Utama Sri Gombak reopened

The closure of Lebuh Utama Sri Gombak is affecting residents in many nearby neighbourhoods. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star

Residents are unhappy that a stretch of Lebuh Utama Sri Gombak, which is the main access to their homes in Batu Caves, Selangor, is closed for widening works.

The closure, which affects some 30 neighbourhoods, is disrupting traffic flow and causing a lot of inconvenience, they said.

The residents want Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) to reopen part of the affected stretch and close only portions of the road where works are ongoing.

“The road closure was done without any thought,” said Taman Indah Gemilang Residents Association former chairman Lim Cheng Hoe.

“Residents now have to get up earlier than usual to send their children to school and to go to work.

“This is something we cannot accept as there are other ways to ease traffic flow.

“The authorities have not considered the inconvenience the closure is posing to residents,” Lim said.

A resident who wanted to be known as Ahmad P said that due to the road closure, he had to leave his house very early to drop his child off at school.

The closure, he said, had also caused severe congestion at internal roads and in front of SK Sri Gombak as residents resort to alternative routes.

“We need access to Lebuh Utama Sri Gombak as it is the main road that residents use to get in and out of our homes,” he said.

Community activist Yee Poh Ping said a notice placed near the project site indicated that the road upgrading work started on July 27 and was expected to be completed on Nov 28.

“Residents will have to wait another three months before traffic can return to normal,” he said.

“I suggest that MPS open at least one lane in each direction at Lebuh Utama Sri Gombak, while the remaining lanes can be closed for road widening works.

“If that is not possible, the contractor should carry out upgrading works at night.

“The contractor should also have people on hand to monitor and direct traffic, if necessary,” said Yee during a press conference at Lebuh Utama Sri Gombak.

When contacted, a spokesperson from MPS said several alternative routes had been established at specific times, following a meeting on Aug 2 with the project’s contractor as well as council and residents’ representatives.