PETALING JAYA: Development may be speeding ahead, but traffic is literally still inching forward, if nor coming to a full stop.
The mushrooming of development projects in the Klang valley may be outstripping the pace at which existing infrastructure is being upgraded to cater to a rise in traffic in the area ? and this is a serious cause of concern.
Highway concessionaire Litrak chief Executive officer Sazally Saidi said that in the past five years, new developments have sprung up causing a significant traffic increase in several areas which are already in urgent need of road enhancements.
He said that while the company is doing its part in constantly trying to alleviate the congestion at the busy stretch of the Damansara-Puchong highway (LDP), coordination between developers, local authorities and highway builders must also be continuously improved so that traffic flow could be better manages.
"Our efforts to improve the traffic situation on the LDP include the building of six interchanges at the Kelana Jaya. Puchong Jaya and kampong Puchong Baru exits, among others, road widening, and the on-going process of installing the Touch 'N' Go device at every toll booth. The six interchanges, which are focused on the southern part of the highway, cost us RM174 million," he said.
Litrak's RM133million Taman Tun Dr Ismail Interchange upgrading project is expected to ease the traffic situation there.
"Currently, traffic is congested at the TTDI intersection leading to Bandar Utama and Kepong as there is a lot criss-crossing with 110,000 vehicles playing the route every day.
"This project, which is expected to be completed by end of 2009, involves the construction of a two lane bridge flyover for northbound traffic to words Kepong.
"This means motorists from Kelana Jaya to Kepong will be able to escape the traffic at the TTDI and Bandar Utama area by using the flyover. The project also includes the widening of northbound slip roads," he said.
The project also includes an underpass from TTDI to Bandar Utama and Kepong, which is expected to be completed by 2011.