Amrish says PJD Link recognises that tree preservation is important.
With climate change and global warming, more efforts are needed to reduce carbon emissions and limit projects that impact the environment and public health.
“We should be embarking on decarbonisation measures, including projects that affect the quality of the environment and people’s lives,” said SS2C PJD Link Awareness Team coordinator Alice Tan.
Tan is among those advocating for the public to understand the impact of the planned Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) dual carriage elevated highway in a mature neighbourhood.
“The project plans to cut through residential and commercial areas, schools as well as places of worship.
“We see this project as damaging to the environment and people,” she said.
Tan said highway structures and their relation to the thermal mass must not be ignored.
Tan says highway structures will trap heat.
The impact of particulate matter (PM2.5), which are particles that are less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter (micron), that can come from vehicles and construction materials cannot be ignored, she said.
“PM2.5 is small enough to be inhaled deeply and can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
“The planned highway will have carbon effects from the transportation process during the construction and disposal of construction waste.
“Also, once the highway is open, vehicles will add to carbon emissions.
“The highway structures will be concrete and trap heat.
“It will be 14.4km long and 23m wide, have 11 interchanges and 21 ramps – this will add to the PM2.5 released into a mature neighbourhood,” said Tan.
PJD Link, which will connect to seven major highways, is designed to reduce congestion in the Klang Valley, said its builder.
PJD Link Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Amrish Hari Narayanan said the highway would allow motorists to reach their destination more quickly and at optimum fuel burning speed.
With reduced fuel consumption, he said, there would also be less carbon emissions.
“PJD Link is designed to supplement and allow more efficient use of public transport by interconnecting a number of bus and urban rail stops.
“With improved traffic flow, buses and other road-based public transport options will also see improved travel times and regular schedules,” he said.
Amrish said the company acknowledged its responsibility to the public based on the standards, regulations and policies set by the Environment Department (DOE) and other government authorities.
“The project will use low energy, low impact alternative piling methods such as diaphragm sheet piles to control vibration.
“There will be temporary noise barriers or perimeter hoarding, piling shroud and acoustic enclosures.
“We will continuously monitor during piling works to ensure compliance with DOE,” he said.
To minimise water pollution during the construction and operational phases, Amrish said there would be temporary drains, silt traps and fence, check dams and if necessary, an active treatment system to prevent discharge to waterways.
In addition, he said there would be periodic inspections and remediation conducted to ensure the effectiveness of these measures.
“There will also be storage and handling of scheduled waste based on the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005,” he said.
Water would be directed down the piers into sumps and discharged into the nearest waterway, he explained.
There will also be treatment at the main collector sump, sand filters, hydrodynamic separators or media filters to prevent potential pollutants from entering waterways, he added.
Amrish said the company recognised that tree preservation was an important part of responsible and sustainable construction practices, and was committed to taking steps to minimise environmental impact.
“A certified arborist will provide a tree conservation and landscape management report.
“The arborist will submit the report providing recommendations on the types of trees that are suitable for relocation and to be transplanted, based on criteria such as species, aesthetic value, age and girth.
“This report will be submitted to the local councils and other relevant parties for approval,” he said.
Amrish said that as recognised by DOE, PM2.5 could be generated in the atmosphere by a number of different sources such as emission from vehicles, industrial emission, open burning of natural or plantation resources in Malaysia and its neighbouring countries as well as construction activities.
He added that ensuring proper mitigation measures such as regular preventive maintenance of road surfaces and regular road cleaning using street sweeper machines would greatly reduce the particulates.
