PETALING JAYA – Netizens have expressed annoyance and despair with the design of an exit ramp at the Sg Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) heading towards the Cheras-Kajang Highway.
Highway users have taken to Twitter and Facebook to criticise the lack of free flow traffic and express surprise that the single-lane elevated ramp exit ends with traffic lights.
Some have described the design of the SUKE exit as “unrealistic”, citing the absence of direct access to the Cheras-Kajang Highway.
During off-peak and peak hours, expressway users have had to endure bumper-to-bumper traffic between 10 minutes and 30 minutes to pass through the Taman Cuepacs/PGA and Jalan Cheras junction before getting onto the Grand Saga toll plaza at the 9th Mile Jalan Cheras.
“I had to face more than 20 minutes of crawling on the first day of SUKE in operation.
“So surprised to witness lack of free flow traffic because of the traffic light at the end of a long sweeping corner of the exit ramp,” said Faizal “Bobot” Othman, who operates a hardware store and commutes daily between Bandar Tun Hussein Onn in Kajang and Taman Keramat in Ulu Kelang.
On Twitter, fitness enthusiast Chin Ann gave a thumbs-up to the engineering marvel of the newly opened expressway but vented annoyance with the exit access to southbound destinations.
“SUKE highway is amazing! New toilets are always amazing! Too bad, the amazing feel(ing) was spoiled by the exit at Cheras/Kajang before connecting to Kajang highway! It was a bloody stupid traffic light junction,” he wrote.
IT consultant Engku Ahmad Fariz related his experience of smooth traffic on the elevated expressway but it was hampered by the lack of free traffic flow at the exit.
“Suddenly Cheras/Kajang has a traffic light. It was all smooth but spoiled. What kind of planning is this? On DUKE MRR2 it took 15 minutes, waiting for the traffic light to clear and it took 30 minutes. Good luck during peak hours!” he stated on Twitter.
On the DashCam Owner Malaysia’s Facebook group, several members have expressed deep concern about the safety aspects.
“Sharp corner going downhill with two-lane merging into one, suddenly there’s a traffic light.
“Wonder why it is not connected directly to the Grand Saga Highway. I hope there won’t be a tragedy of a lorry (the excuse of brake failure) crashing into cars in front. We should take a cue from tragedies in the past such as mayhem at Jelapang toll,” said Danial Danish.
Clarifications are being sought from SUKE concessionaire Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (Prolintas) and Malaysian Highway Authority at press time. – The Vibes, September 25, 2022
