Kamarulzaman (second from left) being briefed by Malaysian Hawkers and Traders Association Coalition president Datuk Rosli Sulaiman (in pink) during his visit to Jalan Yew as Chai (second from right) and other business owners look on. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star
TO mitigate the adverse effects of the widening of the Jalan Yew-Jalan Sungai Besi flyover, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has proposed four measures.
One of the plans is to move the road pillars closer to the shoplots to form a wider space for cars to pass through Jalan Yew, which is beneath the flyover.
However, this would also mean that the new road that runs adjacent to the flyover would be closer to the shoplots along Jalan Yew.
The other proposed measures include upgrading of the Jalan Yew and Jalan Gajah junction, having DBKL officers manage traffic on-site during the construction period as well as enforcement against illegal traders.
Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai said his objections to the project remained unchanged.
“If the pillars are built, there will definitely be traffic congestion and chaos in the area.
“The turn into Jalan Gajah and Jalan Yew roundabout is a huge bottleneck.
“The traders and business owners here fear that it would have irreversible repercussions on their businesses.
“The measures mentioned by DBKL, aside from relocating the pillars, should be done whether or not there is a flyover-widening project,” he said during a press conference held after a site visit with Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh and the project contractor.
Illustration by the Action Committee Against the Widening of Jalan Yew depicting how the project will affect traffic in the area.
Tan said that as the mayor had been made aware of the business owners’ plight, it was hoped that DBKL would rethink the project.
“The mayor will alert me and traders of the verdict after discussing with the project contractor,” he added.
The flyover-widening project, which falls under the Finance Ministry and costs RM90mil, was initiated in 2017.
The flyover that connects the Sungai Besi Highway and Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Highway on both sides caters to motorists headed to Tun Razak Exchange.
When stakeholders found out about the project that includes erecting pillars on Jalan Yew, they formed the Action Committee Against the Widening of Jalan Yew.
However, despite several protests from business owners, the project has been approved and is likely to go through.
Action Committee secretary Chai Mei Li said traffic was bad when a mock pillar was erected along Jalan Yew.
“Imagine the congestion once the project starts.
“We are afraid that people would stop coming here and this will affect our livelihood,” she said.
During the site visit, a representative of the project contractor said there were plans to transform the vacant space beneath the flyover into a two-tier car park to address parking woes in the area.
Kamarulzaman did not speak to reporters during the site visit.
