Work To Ease Congestion In Puchong Expected To End Late Next Year

The first phase of the upgrading works on the Puchong stretch of the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) is on schedule and is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

It is part of the RM300mil upgrade plan by highway concessionaire Litrak to mitigate the congestion at critical points caused by rapid development.

In Puchong, the non-toll traffic on the LDP has increased by ten-fold, from about 40,000 in 1999 to 400,000 in 2010.

“Since 1999, there have been 20 major developments (spanning over 40.5ha or comprising more than 500 units) and 15 medium developments (less than 40.5ha or fewer than 500 units) in Puchong.

“In total, the developments have contributed 85,000 residential units and 17 million sq ft of commercial space while 40,000 more residential units and 2.35 million sq ft of commercial space are expected in the next three to five years,” Litrak CEO Sazally Saidi said.

Thus, upgrading works are timely to cushion the impact of the rush hours traffic jam.

For now, the works, which began last September, are concentrated on the stretch between the Puchong Intan Interchange and Kampung Baru Interchange.

The three major enhancement projects are the construction of a southbound mainline ramp at the Puchong Intan Interchange, improvement on the Puchong Perdana traffic intersection and widening works on the mainline between the Puchong Perdana Interchange and Kampung Baru Interchange.

“Currently, at the Puchong Intan Interchange (where Tractors is located), the traffic heading towards Puchong Perdana and Putrajaya are sharing the road with local traffic heading towards Jalan Puchong and Hicom, Shah Alam.

“A 700m two-lane ramp will be built from the Puchong Intan Interchange to the Puchong Perdana Interchange, while the existing roads will be widened,” Sazally said.

As for the Puchong Perdana intersection, Litrak will be providing an additional lane (slip road) each from LDP (from both north and southbound) heading towards Persiaran Puchong Perdana.

Persiaran Puchong Perdana will be widened, too.

“The stretch of LDP between Puchong Perdana and Kampung Baru Interchange, both north and southbound, will be widened from three to four lanes,” Sazally elaborated.

The first phase of the upgrading plan will cost RM104.6mil, while the second phase, aimed at improving the northbound traffic between Persiaran Surian and Penchala toll plaza, is estimated at RM100mil.

“We are in the midst of finalising the details and seeking approval from the authorities for the second phase, and work will start in the near future,” Sazally said.

The third phase, on the other hand, will involve the Damansara Utama Interchange to SS2 Interchange, as well as Puchong Jaya southbound mainline.

Sazally hoped the Puchong traffic would be eased following the upgrading works.

“While the upgrading works are going on, we will impose some traffic diversion for better traffic management.

“We hope the public will bear with us for the time being,” he said.

Source: The Star