MOTORISTS were caught off-guard when traffic lights at the intersection of Persiaran Surian and Jalan PJU 5/1 in Kota Damansara were turned off overnight by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
Concrete and plastic road barriers were also placed at the intersection near Sunway Nexis.
The city council posted a few notices at the traffic light stating, “Starting Feb 28, 2026, MBPJ and Sunway will close the traffic lights at the Persiaran Surian-Jalan PJU 5/1 intersection, and open the entry ramp to Jalan PJU 5/1 and the hospital.”
However, there were no updates on MBPJ social media platforms.
With this change, motorists coming from Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP) and Bandar Utama heading towards Sunway Nexis, Dataran Sunway or PJU5 area will have to access a ramp above Persiaran Surian.
This ramp, built to replace the traffic light intersection, links motorists directly to Jalan PJU 5/1 and Sunway Medical Centre Damansara.
There is also a U-turn underneath for motorists from PJU5 to access Sunway Nexis and Dataran Sunway.
Meanwhile, motorists coming from the direction of Kota Damansara and Sungai Buloh heading towards the LDP or Bandar Utama need not stop at the intersection.
Sunway Giza Management Corporation chairman Goh Hai Thun said traffic was smoother since the traffic lights were removed and the ramp was opened for vehicular access.
“There is now uninterrupted traffic flow at the former intersection,” he said.
“Motorists can use the ramp to head towards Sunway Giza or Sunway Nexis or even Sunway Medical Centre Damansara.
“We have been asking MBPJ to close the traffic lights for years. It is a relief that it is finally done.
“We hope the authorities will consider additional measures to address the traffic situation near Palm Spring Condominium (Persiaran Surian-Jalan PJU 3/31 intersection),” he said.
Goh said there was a need to expand the two-lane bridge between the hospital and Palm Spring Condominium, as well as to retime the traffic lights near the condominium for smoother traffic flow.
Former Section 6 Kota Damansara Residents Association chairman Alpadzul Abu Hassan is appreciative of the smoother traffic flow since the removal of the traffic lights.
“The congestion at the intersection was quite bad” he said explaining that the queue for those wanting to turn right into Jalan PJU 5/1 could stretch across two lanes, forcing others wanting to head straight to squeeze past on a single lane, with traffic being backlogged until the Palm Spring Condominium intersection.
Alpadzul said MBPJ should ensure regular maintenance at the site due to its history of flooding during downpours.
MBPJ councillor for Zone 3 Muhamad Shazwan Suhaimi said he too was not informed by the city council of changes to the Persiaran Surian-Jalan PJU 5/1 intersection.
“Shortly after the ramp was opened, I received complaints that Jalan PJU 5/1 was unsafe to cross, due to a lack of pedestrian crossings and concerns about speeding vehicles in front of the hospital.
“The complaints came from people living at Palm Spring Condominium and working at Sunway Giza and Dataran Sunway area,” he said.
Muhamad Shazwan inspected the site on March 11 with MBPJ and hospital representatives.
“A raised pedestrian crossing was built two days after my visit. However, I don’t know if it was built by MBPJ or the hospital.
“Other than that, residents’ feedback on the infrastructure changes has been positive and they are happy traffic is smoother,” he said.
Muhamad Shazwan said he would highlight the lack of notification on the road changes at MBPJ’s next Traffic Infrastructure Committee meeting.
