WHILE resigned to the noise and dust from Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve quarries, residents of Taman Matang Jaya and Saujana Akasia are urging authorities to stop heavy lorries from using their narrow neighbourhood roads as shortcuts.
Saujana Akasia resident Ooi See Eim said Jalan Matang Pagar, which serves Taman Sri Putra Mas, Kampung Matang Pagar and Taman Seri Putra 1 in Sungai Buloh, had clear signage restricting vehicles to under eight tonnes.
“But daily, the weight of vehicles passing by easily exceed 20 tonnes,” said Ooi.
Saujana Akasia Residents Association (Sara) president Ong Chau Oh, 81, suggested that the solution laid in a forgotten 2km gravel path that has existed for over three decades.
The route begins at the junction of Jalan Matang Jaya 5, passes a landfill and a concrete casting site and exits at Jalan Kuang. (see map)
“Until now, it is still used by lorries, especially when the Road Transport Department sets up roadblocks on the main roads.”
During a site visit with StarMetro, Sara committee member Tan Gin Kiou, 70, a retired quantity surveyor, highlighted why drivers preferred the residential tarred roads over the gravel shortcut.
Tan noted that the gravel path was prone to flooding and featured a partially collapsed steel bridge that created a bottleneck.
“Either the authorities step in or the quarries operating here set up a fund to upgrade by levelling it with more gravel and to repair the collapsed bridge,” he said, adding that making the gravel path vehicle-friendly would keep lorries away from using neighbourhood roads.
Lorry drivers said the poor condition of the gravel path had often led to punctured tyres and cracked suspension springs.
One driver recalled witnessing a vehicle plunge into a stream when the bridge gave way.
In response to these grievances, Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) said in a statement that a proposal paper was being prepared by Selangor Forestry Department and Gombak District and Land Office.
“The proposal aims to reduce traffic congestion, enhancing the safety of local residents and improving traffic flow in the affected areas of Jalan Matang Pagar, Jalan Matang Jaya 11 and Jalan BRP 10/2.
“From a planning perspective, relevant technical parties are involved to ensure the proposal can be evaluated comprehensively and be implemented in an orderly manner.”
MPS, however, added that the implementation timeline remained undetermined as it was subject to state approval.
Paya Jaras assemblyman Datuk Dr Ab Halim Tamuri, who first raised the issue in 2023, said the focus must be on providing appropriate infrastructure for heavy vehicles.
“I am not against development, but it is unfair for residents to share housing area roads with lorries.
“These council roads are not designed to bear such heavy loads,” Ab Halim said.
