MRR2 nightmare over for SUKE users

 

The SUKE Bukit Antarabangsa Interchange soaring above MRR2, provides much-needed relief from congestion.

KUALA LUMPUR: Technician Ez Zamri never thought motorcyclists could get stuck in traffic jams – until he experienced it on a nearly daily basis.

The 33-year-old, who stays in Taman Bukit Segar, would have to endure up to hour-long crawls every time he needed to use the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) to service customers in Ampang or Taman Melawati.

He said the combination of traffic lights and congestion meant even motorcyclists like himself were caught in traffic.

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Traffic flowing effortlessly along MRR2 in Pandan Indah after the opening of SUKE.

“(Often) there was no room to manoeuvre through the traffic, especially when there were lots of other motorcyclists, too,” Ez told FMT, adding that he could only hope it did not rain whenever he was stuck in a jam.

Thankfully, however, trips to Ampang and Taman Melawati have not been a problem since the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) opened.

“It would take me an hour to travel on the MRR2 on my motorcycle. If I needed to carry more equipment, then I would have to use my car, which would have taken me two hours.

Smoother traffic at SUKE’s Taman Hillview Interchange, provides a more pleasant journey for commuters.

“But with SUKE, it takes me just 10 minutes to reach my destination if I’m using my motorcycle. If I’m driving, it only takes me 30 minutes,” he said.

Since it was opened last September, SUKE has helped alleviate traffic on the MRR2, which has been operating beyond its capacity at Level of Service F (LoS F).

Highways operating at LoS F are characterised by unpredictable and constant stop-start movements with long waiting lines at multiple points.

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Marketing manager Chandran Palaniandy said his time on the road has been drastically cut since SUKE opened. Before that, it took him over an hour to reach his office in Petaling Jaya from Sungai Besi.

The opening of SUKE brings an end to long traffic queues at Pekan Ampang.

“These days, I pass through SUKE to get to Petaling Jaya and I save 15 to 20 minutes,” he said.

Taman Bukit Cheras residents’ association chairman Emran Shah said he also uses SUKE as it reduces his travel time by 30 minutes.

He said many in the area are looking forward to the opening of Phase 2 of SUKE soon. Phase 2 will have additional interchanges at Sri Petaling and Sungai Besi. - FMT