New Straits Times
15 AUGUST 2012 - Options: Motorists urged to use other roads to bypass possible congestion during the construction of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang My Rapid Transit line.
Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) has identified alternative routes for motorists during the construction of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang My Rapid Transit (MRT) line.
In a briefing with the media yesterday, MRT Corp communications and public relations director Amir Mahmood Razak said there were 13 alternative routes in eight areas along the 51km MRT line.
"The routes are to help motorists who are using roads prone to congestion which is likely to worsen," he said, adding that the areas were Sungai Buloh, Kg Baru Sg Buloh, PJU 5, Dataran Sunway, Curve, Semantan, Pusat Bandar Damansara, KL Sentral, Bukit Bintang, Cochrane, Maluri, Bukit Raja, Menara Leisure and Pheonix.
The other areas are Suntex, Cuepacs, Balakong and Taman Cuepacs where the MRT line is aligned with the Grand Saga Highway.
Motorists heading for the city via Jalan Duta can bypass the congestion at MRT work sites by exiting at Jalan Parlimen and getting onto Jalan Tun Perak before turning into Jalan Raja Chulan. They can then head to Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Tun Razak.
From Jalan Tun Razak, they can use the road near the Selangor Golf Club, drive to Jalan Loke Yew and then get onto Jalan Mahameru and Jalan Duta.
Motorists from the city using Jalan Tun Razak to get to Jalan Kg Pandan, heading for Cheras, should get onto Jalan Perkasa and then MRR2 before getting to the East West Link and getting back to Jalan Cheras.
Alternatively, they can get onto the KL Seremban Highway or use the Smart Tunnel, get onto the East West Link and head back towards Jalan Cheras.
To bypass MRT work sites at Sungai Buloh, motorists using the busy thoroughfare of Jalan Kepong-Kuala Selangor to Kota Damansara can use Jalan Kepong-Kuala Selangor head for the NKVE Sungai Buloh toll and exit to Persiaran Kenanga before getting onto Persiaran Surian.
Motorists using Persiaran Surian at Kota Damansara to get to TTDI from the Sprint Highway are urged to use the NKVE instead of exiting at the Damansara toll, and getting back on the Sprint before turning off at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery to head back to TTDI.
This will help them avoid the work sites on the LDP and the Sprint. To avoid the cluster of MRT work sites at Semantan and Pusat Bandar Damansara, motorists from TTDI are advised to get on the Sprint using the Penchala Link before getting onto the Kerinchi Link and head for Jalan Duta and Jalan Kuching. They can also exit at the Kerinchi Link and head for Jalan Syed Putra and Jalan Maharajalela.
However, the suggested routes may not help in reducing traffic congestion during peak hours, said Amir.
He said the corporation was also talking to other public transport providers and operators such as KTM and Prasarana to beef up their services.
Prasarana, for instance, was called to provide more buses and feeder services from bus stops at neighbourhoods and commercial areas to train stations.
Amir said that on its part, MRT Corp would try to avoid closing lanes during construction and if needed, it would only do so between midnight and 5am.
He also said that besides making complaints on their hotline and giving feedback at its website, the public can also complain about noise, potholes or dangerous roads to the authorities.
To view the suggested alternative routes, log onto www.mymrt.com.my. The public can also visit its information centres at Kota Damansara, TTDI, KL Sentral, Kajang and Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, or call the MRT hotline at 1-800-826-868.