Zahid: Govt aiming to reopen Klang Valley roads, ease traffic woes

 

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and four other local councils in the Klang Valley have been given two weeks to identify all road closures which had contributed to daily traffic congestion.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who earlier chaired a cabinet committee meeting on traffic congestion, said the goal - one of several immediate solutions discussed - would be for the roads closed due to construction works to be reopened as soon as possible.

“Among the immediate solutions needed was to address congestion due to road closures.

“Urgent coordination will be done in areas where there are construction of buildings or other infrastructures. Road closures must be minimised and it needs to be informed so traffic can be diverted,” he said.

“We have asked all local councils - Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, and nearby areas - to provide their input in the technical committee meeting,” said Zahid during a press conference with Transport Minister Anthony Loke in Putrajaya today.

The other local councils involved are Subang Jaya and Ampang Jaya.

Asked about a timeline on the solutions to ease traffic congestion, Zahid said DBKL had identified a 2030 target but the government will set an undisclosed “earlier date”.

Speaking to reporters later, Loke said some of the roads had been closed for over two years and contributed to daily traffic woes.

“We want them to reopen (the roads) immediately. 

“Those who have completed, those who have not start work and all that, they have to reopen,” he said.

At the same time, Loke said ongoing construction projects should be completed within the stipulated time frame or companies involved would need to resubmit related mitigation plans. 

“Right now, some of the roads have been closed for too long.

“There are roads closed for two years, three years but not reopened. So those must be reopened urgently,” he said.

He added the government also planned to open more contra-flow roads to ease congestion in identified areas. - Mkini