The high-rise project along Jalan 16/11 and its egress and ingress ramps being built beside Sprint highway have intensified rush-hour congestion. — Low Lay Phon/The Star
STAKEHOLDERS are raising their concerns about worsening traffic conditions in Section 16, Petaling Jaya in Selangor, as a high-rise project of more than 1,800 units is being developed.
The project, which comprises two blocks and a podium, is located at the junction of Jalan 16/1 (Jalan Dato Abu Bakar) and Jalan 16/11. The site is next to Phileo Damansara.
On the opposite side of Jalan 16/1, ingress and egress ramps are being constructed.
Section 16 resident Shazwan Azizan, 36, said the development, built on 1.9ha with a plot ratio of 1:7:0, was unsustainable in terms of density.
“Jalan 16/11 is already a busy road.
“After the project is completed, thousands more cars, motorcycles and lorries will flock onto Jalan 16/11,” he said.
Shazwan, who travels along Jalan 16/11 daily to get to work, anticipates that the building’s visitors or even occupants will park their vehicles illegally, further obstructing the busy and cramped roads.
The same concern was highlighted in a StarMetro article titled “High-rise project in Section 16 cause for concern” in 2019, which cited residents who urged the authorities to conduct traffic and social impact studies.
In a statement, developer Trinity Group said road widening and upgrading would be conducted on Jalan 16/11 to improve traffic flow.
“There will be a total of three lanes at the slip road between Jalan 16/11 and Sprint highway, with one extra lane added.
The additional lane will serve as a dedicated ingress ramp to the project, while a direct egress ramp from the project to Sprint will also be prepared, it said.
“While the elevated ramps provide direct access to the project, the widened slip road can also help to reduce waiting time at the junction between Jalan 16/11 and Jalan 16/1.
“Construction works of the ramp and road widening commenced on May 31 last year and are expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2027,” said the developer.
Shazwan said the additional traffic from the development would eventually merge with Jalan 16/11 onto Sprint, as there was no guarantee that the residents would use the ingress and egress ramps to access Sprint because not everyone could afford or would want to pay the toll fee every day.
Meanwhile, a Section 16 property co-owner urged MBPJ to conduct a fresh traffic impact assessment (TIA) of the area.
“The ingress and egress ramps connecting the project do not actually address the traffic congestion in the area, especially when so many high-rise projects in the area are already funnelling into a limited network.”
MBPJ had not responded to queries as of press time.
