BY JAROD LIM

A crawl along Jalan Tuanku 1. The barricade can be seen on the right.

TAMAN Salak Selatan residents want a dialogue with IJM Corp Bhd, the highway concessionaire for the Sungai Besi Highway (Besraya), to resolve the traffic congestion issue in the area.

They also want the barricade placed at the Jalan Tuanku 1 exit to be removed as it was the main reason for the congestion.

The problem started when IJM placed barricades to stop motorists from cutting to the right lane that leads to the ramp.

Now, motorists were required to turn left and use the traffic lights junction under the ramp to get to Kuala Lumpur, causing a massive backlog for those trying to get to the commercial area next to the highway.

Taman Salak Selatan Residents Association president G.P. Sivam wanted the problems resolved soon as the congestion was affecting businesses in the area.

“We want IJM to hear us out and find a solution to the problem.

“The area consists of at least 20,000 residents and business owners and we have started a petition on this issue.

“We are targeting to get about 12,000 to 14,000 signatures from all affected stakeholders,” he said in a press conference at Jalan Tuanku 1.

About 50 residents and business owners took to the streets that day to protest against the placement of the barricade which had caused the traffic snarl in the area.

They held up a banner at the junction of Jalan Tuanku 1 and Jalan Tuanku 2 during the protest.

Vehicles were stuck in traffic until Jalan Gempita and Jalan Hang Tuah 4.

Sivam added that they had not received any feedback from the local authority despite the problem being highlighted several times in the press.

“There were two press conferences on the issue since May and nothing has been done.

“We are considering protesting in front of IJM office if there is still no solution to this,” he said.

It was previously reported that an IJM spokesman, who was present at one of the press conferences, said the public would be informed if there are changes to the traffic system.

There were plans to widen the road but the traffic impact had to be assessed first by the concessionaire.