The access road to Jalan Hang Tuah 4 will be open for a six-month trial period to monitor traffic safety.
AFTER a two-year closure, an access road to Jalan Hang Tuah 4 in Taman Salak Selatan, Kuala Lumpur, from the Sungai Besi Expressway (Besraya) is finally open to the public.
The Jalan Hang Tuah 4 access road was closed two years ago to facilitate the construction of the Taman Naga Emas MRT Station on the MRT Putrajaya Line, resulting in a new traffic system being introduced in the area.
However, the closure did not go down well with residents there, especially those from Taman Salak Selatan and Taman Naga Emas who opposed the move.
They complained that the traffic diversion took away their direct access road in Taman Salak Selatan, adding to the daily stress of having to traverse city roads.
Residents from Kuchai Lama also had to use an access road to Taman Naga Emas MRT Station and make a U-turn near Chee Wan Sam Temple before turning left into Jalan Hang Tuah 4.
Salak South Garden Residents Association (SSGRA) chairman Paramasivam Govindasamy said hundreds of residents and the business community had complained about the diversion.
“We carried out several protests and we are relieved that they have finally opened the access road,” he said.
Paramasivam, however, said he was concerned that the reopening of the road was only temporary.
“There is a banner at the site which says that the reopening of the access road is on a trial basis from March 5 to Sept 5.
“So what happens after that? We need the access road to be opened permanently as this closure has caused undue stress to residents in the area,” he said.
Meanwhile, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok posted the news about the reopening of the access road on her Facebook page.
“It is finally open pending the installation of the necessary signage and closed-circuit TV cameras,” she said.
She added that the road was reopened following a site visit on Feb 22 by Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah and relevant parties, including MRT Corp.
“The access road will be monitored for six months for traffic safety before a final decision is made,” said Kok.
