New lights, lanes, U-turns to end roundabout woes

The left turn (right) from Persiaran Kewajipan into Persiaran Jengka will be upgraded into two lanes.

MAJOR traffic upgrades are set to transform Bulatan Kewajipan in Subang Jaya, Selangor starting July.

The project aims to untangle chronic congestion at the roundabout, providing long-awaited relief for daily commuters.

Surrounded by major neighbourhoods including SS15, SS12, SS14 and SS13, the roundabout is widely used by motorists but notorious for gridlock during peak hours.

Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) Zone 1 councillor Chia Yew Ken said the plan involved three traffic lights installed at the roundabout to control traffic flow and prevent congestion (see map).

“Vehicles from the Subang – Kelana Jaya Link, coming from the direction of Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC ), tend to be able to move into the roundabout faster than vehicles from other directions, giving them a head start.

“This leads to traffic backlogs on NPE (New Pantai Expressway), which can drag all the way to Bandar Sunway, during peak hours.

“By having the traffic light (A), motorists from Bandar Sunway can also have a chance to move into the roundabout smoothly without needing to wait too long,” he said.

The proposed spot for a new U-turn along Persiaran Kewajipan, which will be built after the direct link between SS15 and Bandar Sunway through the roundabout is closed off.

The second traffic light (B), according to Chia, was to control traffic flow from Bandar Sunway.

“One more lane will also be added to the existing left turn (SS13-bound) to allow smoother traffic flow,” he added.

Meanwhile, the third set (C) will be installed to control traffic coming from SS14.

Chia said the smart traffic lights would adjust their timing based on live traffic flow.

“This means the traffic lights will have different timings throughout the day.

“When there are more vehicles coming from one direction, that traffic light will remain green longer,” he said.

In another major shift, the direct link from SS15 towards Bandar Sunway through the roundabout will be closed. Motorists will need to take a new U-turn on Persiaran Kewajipan to get to Bandar Sunway.

Chia added that the existing U-turn on Persiaran Jengka (near Public Bank) will also be widened.

“The new system is expected to be operational starting January next year.”

Residents’ reactions

Residents’ representatives in Subang Jaya told StarMetro they were generally happy with the proposed changes, but offered some suggestions to further improve the system.

SS14 Kawasan Rukun Tetangga chairman John Zachariah proposed widening the left turn from Persiaran Kewajipan into Persiaran Jengka (SS14-bound).

There are calls for the left turn from Persiaran Kewajipan to Persiaran Jengka (SS14-bound) on Bulatan Kewajipan to be widened, with a divider installed to separate left-turning vehicles from those entering the roundabout.

He also advocated for a physical divider to separate left-turning traffic from vehicles entering the roundabout.

“Currently, some motorists heading toward SS15 or Bandar Sunway often use the left lane to enter the roundabout before weaving dangerously into the right lanes.

“Having the divider can ensure that motorists are in the correct lanes before entering the roundabout,” he said.

Subang Jaya Zone 1 People’s Representative Council (MPP) treasurer Albert Tung questioned the necessity of the new U-turn on Persiaran Kewajipan, labelling it potentially redundant.

He pointed out that an existing junction at Jalan SS12/1 – located less than 500m away – already served this purpose.

The current junction, he said, effectively separated U-turn traffic from vehicles heading towards the Subang-Kelana Jaya Link to prevent congestion.

“The proposed new U-turn could cause a backlog for vehicles heading to the Subang-Kelana Jaya Link if there isn’t a similar separation measure.”

He further urged MBSJ to prioritise construction efficiency to avoid unnecessary project delays.

Surau Al-Huda SS13 chairman Azlifuddin Azmin voiced the community’s hope that construction would not lead to significant local disruptions.

While supporting the upgrades in principle, Azlifuddin – who also serves on the Subang Jaya Zone 1 MPP – emphasised that the project must be managed carefully.

“We don’t object to the plan, provided it does not interfere with traffic or residents’ daily errands,” he said.

School traffic

A frequently cited cause of the area’s gridlock is the congestion created by parents parking along Persiaran Kewajipan – and occasionally within the roundabout itself – to collect students from nearby Sri Kuala Lumpur School.

Chia urged parents to cooperate for the new system’s success, noting that authorities were still seeking long-term solutions for school-hour traffic.

“We previously proposed pedestrian bridges linking the school to SS12 and SS13,” Chia added.

“However, residents strongly opposed the idea, fearing it would draw an influx of cars into their neighbourhoods.”

During a StarMetro visit, one of two lanes along Persiaran Kewajipan in front of Sri Kuala Lumpur School was cordoned off with traffic cones to allow vehicles carrying pupils to exit.

Traffic at the roundabout was relatively slow during that time.

Zachariah proposes widening the left turn from Persiaran Kewajipan into Persiaran Jengka

Tung said the school had also proposed construction of a pedestrian bridge connecting to Millennium Park in SS13 about 10 to 15 years ago.

“It also proposed building a multistorey carpark in the park for parents’ vehicles.

“However, the plan was rejected by MBSJ.

“The school wanted to lease the land for 30 years, but MBSJ was only willing to allow it for seven.

“MBSJ also wanted to open up the bridge for the public, but the school wanted it exclusively for its students.

“Eventually, the proposal was rejected,” he said.

When contacted, Sri Kuala Lumpur School chief executive Hanif Merican said the school had consistently sought community input and approval for all proposed traffic management strategies in the area.

Hanif noted that as one of the earliest education institutions in SS15, the school viewed its civic duty to its neighbours as top priority.

“Sri Kuala Lumpur School has been located in SS15 since 1987, before Sunway Pyramid, The Summit, Taylor’s College, Inti International College, Metropolitan College or any other significant private developments in the area.

“We have capped our student enrolment since 2003 despite having a strong market demand for more places.

“We have remained a low-rise resident even in the midst of the rapid and ever higher develop-ment projects around us.”