Heavy vehicle drivers have been caught unaware of the height limitation on a Brickfields ramp and are forced to reverse along the busy road back towards the entryway, as the height barrier installed there is missing after being damaged.
The drivers using the ramp linking Jalan Tebing to Jalan Syed Putra find themselves faced with a low-clearance overhead pedestrian bridge that they are unable to pass under.
As such, they have to reverse all the way back down along the ramp and this has sparked safety fears among other road users.
Stakeholders are calling on Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to build a new height restriction gantry at the ramp’s entry.
They said buses and lorries regularly entered the road, unaware of low-clearance infrastructure ahead near Wisma MAB and SM Kuen Cheng.
Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) chief executive officer Datuk George Thomas said the problem was not new.
Vehicles exceeding the height limit had been trapped along the road on previous occasions, he said.
“Buses and other heavy vehicles have attempted to use the Jalan Tebing ramp, only to realise they cannot proceed because of height restrictions further ahead.”
He said the barrier was damaged in the past and subsequently replaced, but another incident happened several months ago.
Thomas said he continued to see large vehicles attempting to use the ramp located next to the Tun Sambanthan monorail station, despite it being unsuitable.
Brickfields Rukun Tetangga chairman SKK Naidu said heavy vehicles were not supposed to use the ramp at all.
“When they become stranded or are forced to reverse, it creates a safety risk for other motorists and pedestrians, including the visually impaired community who regularly cross this road.
“We hope the authorities will repair the barrier as soon as possible and instal clearer warning signs to ensure heavy vehicles do not get on that road in the first place,” said Naidu.
He said the height barrier served as an important warning system for drivers who were unfamiliar with the area.
“When it was damaged, many lorry and bus drivers assumed the road was suitable for large vehicles.
“They only realised their mistake when they reached the low-clearance section.
“We have received complaints from road users who are concerned about the safety risks.
“A large vehicle reversing on a busy ramp is not something anyone wants to encounter,” he stressed.
Palm Court condominium resident Narayanan Samy said the height restriction gantry served as a vital prevention.
“Without the barrier, drivers often realise too late that they cannot proceed, forcing them to reverse, putting themselves and other road users at risk,” Narayanan added.
When contacted, DBKL Urban Transportation Department director Muhammad Azri Abdul Aziz said the matter would be investigated.
“I will need to visit the site to assess the situation,” he said.
“We are not sure who installed the height restriction barrier, so we will have to coordinate with Prasarana before deciding on the appropriate course of action.”
