KenaSaman.com

Motorists are becoming impatient with the roadworks that are causing massive congestion at the busy junction of Jalan Pudu, Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Imbi.

Unfortunately, those using the road will have to bear with the pain for a longer period as the project to build an underpass has been delayed.

The new completion date is March 2014. The project that began in 2009 was supposed to be completed by end of this year.

The construction has taken up two of the six lanes, causing Cheras-bound vehicles along Jalan Pudu to squeeze into two lanes from the previous three.

Many motorists also commented that the traffic lights were badly coordinated. The green time is too short for Cheras-bound traffic along Jalan Pudu, and when they finally manage to drive past the set of traffic lights at the Jalan Bukit Bintang-Jalan Pudu intersection, they are caught up again at the Jalan Imbi-Jalan Pudu intersection that is about 50m away.

As a result, cars spill into the yellow box and block the flow of traffic from other directions. Frustrated motorists honk at each other to fight for space.

“The long wait and the short green time stretches one’s patience. Motorists do not give way as they are angry and it’s like a war zone there,” said events coordinator Eng Kai Lin, 26.

“It usually takes me more than 30 minutes just to drive past the two traffic lights. I avoid using the road whenever I can,” she said.

The congestion is causing a lot of problems to businesses in the area.

A hotel operator, who did not want to be identified, said motorists honked considerably to express their anger, making it uncomfortable for hotel guests and this was affecting business.

Another businessman, whose shop fronts Jalan Pudu, said he believed the fumes emitted by vehicles was taking a toll on his health, adding that the noise also made it difficult to hear what his customers said over the phone.

A Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) source said the delay was due to the need to relocate underground utility cables.

“The relocation of utility cables has just been completed and construction of the underpass is now in full swing,” he said.

“We are trying our best to speed up the work but it is not an easy project as there are so many utility cables underground.

“We have allocated time to remove the cables when planning the project, but the contractors appointed by utility companies had failed to deliver on time,” he added.

He said a new traffic diversion plan was in place to facilitate the construction.

The details will be announced next week.

He added that the slip road connecting Jalan Pudu and Jalan Hang Tuah was completed and would alleviate the congestion along that stretch.

An official from the DBKL Transport Department said he would send engineers to check on the traffic lights’ timing.

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