Klang motorists worry about traffic safety near LRT work site, says report

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 23): Klang residents are concerned about the road safety near a LRT construction site in their city.

Work has begun in earnest for the mega transport project along a three-lane dual carriageway at Persiaran Tengku Ampuan Rahimah and Jalan Langat.

As a result, there have been significant realignment of roads there to accommodate the construction site.

And that is making the residents worry. The Star has reported that there are a blind spots, insufficient lighting after dark and confusing lane dividers.

“The lane dividers are unclear especially at night when you drive from the Simpang Lima roundabout.

"There are three lanes which suddenly narrow into one-and-a-half lanes and then branches out into two or three and back to two,” motorist Joshua Tan told The Star.

He added there had been near accidents as motorists were confused about which lane to use as some of the freshly drawn lines overlap with the older ones.

And that was the case with Mohamed Hussain when he had a close shave last week -- he had to swerve violently to avoid an oncoming vehicle which was making a sudden U-turn.

“The lights were green and I was driving in my lane towards Klang town when suddenly the vehicle decided to make a U-turn at the traffic lights near Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah,” he said.

“More effort is needed to ensure the safety of motorists at certain portions of the stretch.

“Enforcement action should be taken against those who make illegal U-turns,” he added.

Meanwhile, Eddie Chew is worried about safety at and near the construction site.

“There should be sturdier barriers around the construction site as it is in close proximity to motorists.

“Traffic personnel should be stationed at the U-turns which most motorists would have to take now due to the road closure from Jalan Langat onto Jalan Tun Abdul Razak,” Chew told the English daily.

Another Klang resident Jayden Yang said that work machinery were too close to the road and he is concerned for motorists driving past the area.

“A mishap occurred near the hospital a few months ago when a large pipe fell into the back of a truck after the crane snapped,” he told The Star.

According to reports, a stop-work order was issued by the Public Works Department to the contractor for non-compliance following that accident. The order was lifted on July 25 and work has since resumed.

LRT3 project director Patrick Hwang Chee Leong told The Star that measures have been taken to ensure that the contractor complies with the road safety audit.

“The contractor is also expected to keep enhancing traffic management along Jalan Langat and we will conduct regular inspections and notify the contractor if anything is not in accordance with the requirements,” he said.