Loop system to ease traffic congestion in PJ
BY WONG PEK MEI
Aerial view: The affected area near Federal Highwayin between Jalan Barat from left and Jalan Utara from right.—filepi
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PETALING Jaya will be implementing the one-way traffic loop system next year.
Petaling Jaya City Council’s (MBPJ) said the new system would be on a three-month trial beginning Jan 1 next year.
The 6km loop involves main roads such as Jalan Barat, Jalan Utara, Jalan Timur, Jalan Semangat and Jalan Sultan.
However, residents voiced concern over MBPJ’s decision to go ahead with it.
They were of the opinion it would lead to more congestion and that a proper traffic impact assessment of vehicles entering and exiting the Federal Highway had not been included.
They said motorists would access residential lanes in order to avoid the one-way loop.
Section 12 Residents Association vice-president R. Rajasoorian said the one-way loop system would delay ambulances rushing patients to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.
“People who need urgent treatment may not be able to reach the hospital in time because of this,” he said.
However, MBPJ maintained that the one-way traffic loop system will improve current and future traffic flow.
MBPJ public relations officer Zainun Zakaria said it would result in a better traffic management system, smoother traffic flow and cater to future developments in the Section 52 area.
The council conducted a traffic study of Petaling Jaya in 2009 and one of the measures proposed to reduce congestion was the one-way loop system.
According to MBPJ, the number of cars using the roads can be doubled with the implementation of the one-way loop system.
The loop will involve areas such as Sections 52, 14 and 11 and part of Section 12, affecting several institutions including the Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital, several hotels, two LRT stations, condominiums and schools.
The loop passes through Jalan Templer, Jalan Gasing and Jalan Universiti, among other roads.
Meanwhile, the Templer roundabout in Jalan Othman is expected to be equipped with traffic lights by August next year.
The project is expected to cost an estimated RM3.14mil.
The traffic situation at the roundabout is graded class F, which is the worst, during peak hours.
It is expected to improve to class C once the traffic lights are installed.
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