PETALING JAYA: Several lanes on the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) will be temporarily closed for six months to protect road users during construction of a bridge structure for the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE).
The closure began on Sept 24 and will go on until Dec 10, affecting the highway for a 2km stretch between the Persiaran Mewah junction and Pekan Sungai Besi exit.
SUKE deputy general manager Zarulazam Eusofe said the closures were necessary to isolate work areas from road users to guarantee their safety as the construction involved heavy lifting work.
He added that this was to reduce risks and prevent any untoward incidents involving construction activities, which had been an issue in the past.“Throughout the construction period, both overhead U-turns near the Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) and three lanes of the MRR2 Sungai Besi-bound will be closed to traffic,” he said.
The closures and diversions have obtained the approval of the works ministry, the Malaysian Highway Authority and public works department.
Some 11 pillar structures will be constructed during the six-month period, as well as concrete work, beam launching and the installation of parapet walls crossing above the MRR2.
Throughout the closure, a two-lane contraflow will be activated along the Ulu Kelang-bound lanes while users heading to Ulu-Kelang will be diverted to the TBS ramp.
An emergency response team and auxiliary policemen will be there to control traffic flow and address any incident, with the former being on site 24 hours.
From Dec 11 to March 10, the contraflow lanes will be reduced to one as the construction works progress to the second phase.
The lane closures and contraflow lanes will undoubtedly cause traffic congestion and add on to users’ travel time by up to 30 minutes during peak hours.
Prolintas estimates that around 120,000 users will be affected by the closures, comprising 48,000 travellers who are Ulu Kelang-bound and 72,000 going towards Sungai Besi daily.
“SUKE would like to advise the public to plan their trips accordingly to avoid any inconvenience.
“Those heading towards Ulu Kelang from the Kesas highway may take Exit 516, Sri Petaling, heading towards Kuala Lumpur as an alternative route.”
When completed, the SUKE highway is expected to reduce congestion by at least 30% on the MRR2, particularly in highly populous areas like Cheras, Pandan Indah and Ampang.
Starting at Sri Petaling and ending at Ulu Kelang, SUKE will connect other major highways such as Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE), Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (Akleh) and Sungai Besi Expressway (Besraya), among others. - FMT
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.