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Joined: 13 Jan 2006
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Location: Bukit Jalil
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 Posted:
Thu Oct 12, 2006 5:39 pm |
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Relief as 10-year wait ends
Photos by SAM THAM
Costing slightly over RM10mil, the Awan Besar Interchange in Taman OUG Old Klang Road connecting to the Kesas Highway is finally complete. It is one of the 10 missing road connections being built by Kuala Lumpur City Hall in different parts of the city to provide better connectivity for city folks. BAVANI M finds out how essential the link is to residents in the area and how they waited more than 10 years for it.
AFTER more than a decade, the Awan Besar Interchange at Taman OUG Old Klang Road is finally scheduled to be open to the public today.
A senior spokesman from City Hall's Public Works Department said traffic lights were installed about two weeks ago but have not been commissioned yet.
“We expect everything to be operational by Wednesday (today) and the link will be open to the public,'' said the spokesman when contacted by StarMetro.
The link is one of the 10 missing road connections being built by City Hall to provide better connectivity.
Motorists, especially those living around Old Klang Road, OUG, Taman Yarl, Bukit OUG and the Industrial Parks in the area, will be able to use this link to get to Kesas Highway, which leads directly to Bukit Jalil, the MRR2 highway, Subang, KLCC and Klang.
Costing slightly over RM10mil, the link is one of the 10 missing road connections being built by Kuala Lumpur City Hall in various parts of the city to provide better connectivity.
Lim looks forward to congestion-free driving in the mornings.
While tabling last year's budget, Mayor Datuk Ruslin Hasan said that 45% from development expenses, totalling RM431.1mil, would go towards improving the quality of roads in the city.
Out of this, RM196mil would be allocated to build 10 road connections (missing links) in various parts of the city.
When City Hall first announced the construction of the interchange in the early 1990s, many, especially residents, were ecstatic as it would mean that traffic jams would be drastically reduced, especially during peak hours.
But due to various reasons, the project was delayed for more than 10 years.
Taman Yarl Residents Association vice-president M. Jeganathan said the interchange would ease congestion in the area.
Chong... “It’s a great thing for the community here.”
“There will be a better flow of traffic here compared to the past where residents had to use the Sri Petaling Interchange and the winding inner service roads of Taman Yarl and Taman Datuk Tan Yew Lai,'' he explained.
“It will be a great thing for the community here,'' said Villa OUG RA chairman Gary Chong.
“We have been waiting for this link to open for many years as traffic jams can get rather bad, especially in the mornings,'' added Chong.
Bukit OUG condominiums resident Raymond Lim said that after being constantly caught in a gridlock during peak hours, he is looking forward to congestion free rides in the mornings.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said the missing link was just one of six proposals made by her team to City Hall several years ago to provide better connectivity in the Seputeh constituency.
“Old Klang Road has been serving as the main link to various housing estates including Taman Desa, OUG, Taman United, Taman Yarl, Happy Garden, Taman Lien Hoe and Taman Bukit Aman,'' she said.
“Due to rapid development over the years, Old Klang Road cannot cope with the increase in traffic, leading to congestion, which can be a night-mare,'' she said.
Jeganathan... “There will be a better flow of traffic compared to the past.”
As such, Kok had made several proposals for several road links to ease the congestion.
Kok said most of the proposals have been implemented and once fully completed, the area will enjoy better connectivity.
When asked about the long delay for the Awan Besar Interchange project, Kok said it was mainly due to a 500m stretch on the missing link that was located on private land.
Also, the area was situated on a low-lying area, requiring massive retaining walls and backfilling to build the road.
Proposals to ease congestion on Old Klang Road
To link Jalan Mega (opposite Plaza OUG) to Jalan 1/127 in Happy Garden.
To link Jalan 2/149 at Sri Petaling to Jalan 1/127 at Happy Garden then proceed to Jalan Klang Lama/Salak South Road traffic light junction,
To complete road connection at the end of Jalan Awan Besar to Kesas Highway (Awan Besar Interchange).
To widen the whole of Old Klang Road from the junction of Federal Highway to Subang Jaya.
To complete road connection at overhead fly-over junction from Sri Petaling (Jalan 2/149) to Bukit Jalil and Kesas Highway.
To widen existing road from Seremban Highway heading toward Jalan Kuchai Lama traffic light junction. |
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