THE closure of an access road along the Middle Ring Road 2 (MMR2) to Persiaran Putra Bayu in Kuala Lumpur is a safety hazard which is also causing traffic disruption.
Community activist Yee Poh Ping said the road closure on the Kepong-bound stretch of MRR2 since middle of last year resulted in motorists using a narrow slip road to get to Persiaran Putra Bayu.
Yee is urging Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to implement immediate mitigation measures before the situation worsened and led to accidents or gridlock.
The slip road is for motorists heading to two petrol stations, as well as two high-rise residential properties – M Luna Residensi and PPAM Metropolitan Kepong.
“Since the authorities closed the access road, there has been increased traffic including heavy vehicles on the slip road.
“Roadside stalls along the stretch are adding to the congestion when people stop to buy food.
“This turns the narrow road into a bottleneck.
“Double-parking at the stalls creates dangerous blind spots and slows down traffic,” he said, adding that he had received complaints over the matter.
Yee said there were only two small signboards alerting motorists of a traffic diversion to Persiaran Putra Bayu.
He claimed this has caused some drivers to miss the turning, resorting to illegal and dangerous U-turns at a one-way slip road near Taman Tasik Metropolitan Kepong.
“Persiaran Putra Bayu is a high-traffic road leading to Jalan Kepong. There should be proper entries and exits.”
Yee said DBKL must come up with proper traffic management, especially with new developments cropping up in the area.
“If DBKL has approved these developments, it must insist that current and future traffic conditions are taken into account.
“What is happening now is jeopardising the safety of motorists and pedestrians,” he stressed.
Yee had alerted DBKL to the issue since last year, but there had been no feedback or solution. ― By SHALINI RAVINDRAN
