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Thiang ... 'motorists will only enjoy faster travel time'. |
WHILE construction works on the Jengka and Tujuan Inter-changes in Subang Jaya are underway, the projects' concessionaire, New Pantai Expressway Sdn Bhd (NPE), is a step closer to providing residents in the area a smoother drive.
After all, the area has been tagged a motorist’s nightmare for years. The Bandar Sunway and Subang Jaya stretch, for instance, is known for its traffic congestion.
The additional works, which began two years ago, are expected to be completed in April.
“The ongoing works are part of the final stage in an overall traffic im-provement scheme designed to bring about an end to congestion in Subang Jaya and USJ,” said Subang Jaya assemblyman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng.
He said the recent opening of the Kewajipan Ramp was proof that what was deemed impossible could be made possible.
“Since its opening, traffic congestion along Jalan Kewajipan, particularly in front of the Summit shopping complex, has eased considerably,” he added.
In fact ever since the Subang Jaya-KL stretch and vice versa stretches were opened, many considered these as a boon to the community, said Lee.
“I have no qualms about paying toll as the highway is an alternative route to the Federal Highway and people have a choice,” said Stanley Lim, a USJ resident.
“It takes me about 15 minutes to get to work and a little longer to get home, but it’s worth it as I feel a whole lot happier and the quality of my life has improved,” he said.
NPE senior manager Simon Thiang said more benefits were in store for motorists as the key to the city’s traffic problem was connectivity.
“The highway is not just about providing traffic free roads, but providing connectivity to different areas in the city,'' he said. “It is like connecting the missing links of our local highway system in the Klang Valley.”
According to Thiang several upgrades and new interchanges were being constructed at various parts of NPE.
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An NPE staff monitoring the traffic situation from a control tower at Pantai Dalam. |
Apart from the Jengka, Tujuan interchanges, and the Kewajipan Ramp, another project at Jalan Templer in Petaling Jaya, called the Gasing Ramp, is also underway.
Motorists who use the Jalan Othman roundabout during peak hours may not appreciate the work NPE is doing now, but once this has been completed it will alleviate traffic congestion considerably.
“The ramp will enable traffic coming in from Jalan Kelang Lama to Jalan Templer to bypass the Jalan Templer roundabout to get into Jalan Gasing,'' said Thiang.
“The ramp will ease congestion, not only at the roundabout, but in the surrounding areas too,” he added.
Another project in the pipeline is the Kuchai Ramp project, which will be built at the end of Jalan Kuchai Lama.
“These separate upgrades, costing RM140mil, will ease congestion in all areas and provide motorists with a jam-free and, more importantly, a stress-free drive,” said Thiang.
The upgrades will not result in additional toll for the motorists. “In fact, they will only enjoy faster travel time, have better connectivity and additional quality time,” said Thiang.
