THE opening of the elevated U-turn ramp, as part of the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE), in Ukay Perdana, Hulu Kelang, has noticeably relieved traffic congestion in the area.
Since the ramp was opened on Jan 26, peak-hour bottlenecks at the junction of Jalan Ukay Perdana and Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) have eased significantly, according to road users.
However, the new infrastructure has also raised concerns among some motorists, who say the design required extra safety features.
Ukay Perdana resident Rosli Sharafuddin said the elevated U-turn has a sharp bend that splits into two lanes that lead to different areas.
“Even before you get on it (ramp), you need to know where you are heading, as one lane leads towards Gombak and the other, towards Taman Keramat.
“There is little time to switch at the last minute (at the bend).
“The recommended speed limit is 25km/h, but even then, I have to drive slower because it is a very sharp corner,” he said.
Bukit Antarabangsa resident M. Shangkari, echoed these concerns, noting that the two lanes on the U-turn appeared narrower than usual.
“I had an incident where a larger vehicle swerved into my lane because it was almost hitting the side.
“Luckily, I was driving slowly and managed to brake in time,” she said.
The original design for the elevated U-turn was amended following a legal proceeding a few years back.
Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Kamri Kamaruddin, whose constituency includes Ukay Perdana, said the elevated U-turn had undergone a road safety audit (RSA) before it was opened to traffic.
“The RSA team came one or two months before the launch and inspected the site.
“It was approved before it opened, with additional measures such as speed limit and warning signs,” he said, adding that the design met standard highway operating procedures.
However, Kamri acknowledged concerns raised by road users as there had been an accident on the ramp within the first few days of the opening.
“This road is still new and motorists may need time to familiarise themselves with it.”
Kamri, who is also Selangor Assembly Deputy Speaker, said while traffic congestion in the area had significantly reduced since the ramp opened, improvements may still be needed.
“Vehicles no longer cut through Bukit Antarabangsa, which has also helped ease congestion at Jalan Wangsa 1.”
He added that he would continue monitoring the situation to assess whether further safety enhancements were required, stressing that motorists must exercise caution when using the new ramp.
The EKVE concessionaire, in a social media post, said the opening of the section was intended to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion at existing intersections, particularly for routes heading towards Gombak and Lembah Keramat/Wangsa Maju.
It advised road users to observe traffic signs and drive responsibly.
Section 1 of EKVE is a dual carriageway, featuring four grade-separated interchanges, namely the Sungai Long Interchange, Bandar Mahkota Cheras Interchange, Hulu Langat Interchange and Ampang Interchange.
The stretch forms part of the Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (KLORR) to divert traffic out of the city centre.
Section 2, which will connect this route directly to Ukay Perdana, is currently under development.
