THE Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Highway may offer a swift and smooth drive to the city centre but road users in Seri Kembangan are annoyed because they cannot access the thoroughfare.

There are no entry and exit points between Seri Kembangan and the 26km-long expressway opened on Dec 13 last year. The expressway links with major roads and highways like the MRR1, MRR2, Besraya, NPE, KL-Seremban Highway and Kesas.

The Putrajaya, Kampung Pandan, Salak South, Kuchai Lama and Bukit Jalil interchanges provide access to the Golden Triangle, Damansara, Jalan Duta, Old Klang Road, Federal Highway, Sungai Besi, Sri Petaling and Bangi, easing congestion on these routes to a certain extent.

Furthermore, the Putrajaya Interchange integrates with the North South Expressway Central Link (ELITE Highway) to enable road users to travel to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang.

Motorist Mok Chee Yong who lives in Seri Kembangan uses the KL-Putrajaya Highway daily.

"I have to drive an additional 25km due to the lack of entry and exit points. Although I need to get to the highway by using the Putrajaya link, I still find it a better route to my office in downtown KL," he said.

"I believe the highway was built according to plans drawn up 10 years ago when parts of Seri Kembangan were still rubber and oil palm estates. There were no housing estates then but Seri Kembangan is now home to many townships," Mok added.

He also highlighted the illegal racing that occurs along the highway from midnight to 2am nightly with the Seri Kembangan Rest Area serving as their pit stop.

Bandar Putra Permai resident Bridget Pereira said the only reference to Seri Kembangan on the expressway was the R&R area.

"Bandar Putra Permai is a fast and upcoming township and therefore being able to access the highway would not only cut down travel time to KL but also ease the congestion currently faced by all residents in Seri Kembangan town," she said.

It was reported in Chinese dailies last year that there would be a second phase to the highway where an access point will be built using government land belonging to the National Hydraulic Research Institute Malaysia (Nahrim) based in Seri Kembangan.

When contacted, Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah said he would seek a meeting with highway concessionaire Konsortium Lapangan Terjaya Sdn Bhd (KLTSB) to determine if the access-exit points were originally planned. He said he was aware of the problem highlighted by residents and would act on it by seeking further clarification.

KLTSB senior manager (corporate communications) Tihana Yon said the company would issue a statement on the matter tomorrow.