BY KATHLEEN MICHAEL
Traffic along the Jalan Kenari main road is a mess as motorists dash across the roads dangerously.
IT HAS been almost one year since changes were made to the traffic flow at the Jalan Kenari commercial area in Bandar Puchong Jaya.
The road ingress was closed to reduce traffic exiting the Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP) straight into the commercial area through Jalan Kenari 11.
Since the closure, traffic flow has been smoother but it has caused problems for business owners in Jalan Kenari 11.
Restaurant owner Mohamed Sarbudeen said his business has suffered.
“My 24-hour restaurant usually has many customers at night for supper but not anymore, since the road closure,” he said, adding that he has since suffered losses of about RM500 a month.
He said he started business a month before the road closure.
“If I had known this would happen, I would not have chosen this location,” he said, adding that even his vegetable supplier stopped coming twice a week because of the traffic congestion.
A restaurant supervisor, who declined to be named, said because of the closure, motorists had to make a big round just to reach Jalan Kenari 11.
She said business has dropped by 40% since the closure.
Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han said the proposal for another ingress to be opened from LDP into the commercial area, through Jalan Kenari 7, was rejected by LDP concessionaire Lingkaran Trans Kota Sdn Bhd.
Ng said this was because the closure at Jalan Kenari 11 caused a traffic spillover in Jalan Kenari 4, near IOI Boulevard.
Lingkaran Trans Kota Holdings Berhad chief executive officer Sazally Saidi said the proposal was rejected by the Malaysian Highway Authority because it posed danger to motorists coming from the bridge due to other motorists weaving in and out of traffic.
“The problem is the haphazard and double-parking in the Kenari area that blocks vehicles from entering Jalan Kenari.
“Closing all ingress from LDP into the Kenari area is perhaps the best solution to resolve the congestion problem,” he said.
To ease traffic flow in the commercial area, Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) converted Jalan Kenari 18B, Jalan Kenari 20, Jalan Kenari 22 and Jalan Kenari 23A into one-waystreets.
A check by StarMetro showed that despite the reduced congestion, there was still the problem of double-parking, especially in Jalan Kenari 21.
However, what was more worrying was traffic along the main road, Jalan Kenari, where motorists were seen dashing across dangerously.
Security guard S. Nilemegum said traffic on the main road was dangerous and it was a matter of “being faster than the other driver”.
“You can turn left, right or go straight, as long as you move fast enough to avoid a collision,” he said.
This also posed a danger to pedestrians attempting to cross the busy road.
MPSJ Corporate and Strategic Management deputy director Azfarizal Abdul Rashid said the council would conduct traffic studies to improve the situation in Jalan Kenari.
Cleanliness of the area is also still a concern.
This is despite the Clean Up Drains campaign held in 2015 where business owners were tasked to clean their drains and install proper drain covers.
Some drains were found to be choked with thick layers of oil and rubbish.
MPSJ acting president Zulkurnain Che Ali said the council spent thousands of ringgit to refurbish part of the commercial area but the mentality of the public remained the same.
“Business owners cleaned up their drains and back lanes but the condition reverted to its original state.
“We need the cooperation from all parties,” he said, adding that handing out compounds alone would not help the situation.
“We will continue to ensure that drains and back lanes are clean and we will fine those who throw food waste into drains as well as those who have not installed grease traps or have not maintained their grease traps,” Zulkurnain said.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/05/31/room-for-improvement-in-bandar-puchong-jaya-road-closure-in-commercial-centre-affecting-businesses-w/#IbDwduVe6sGEZTCf.99
