Heavy traffic on Jalan Perajurit makes it difficult for motorists to enter and exit the junction that leads to adjacent housing areas. — Photos: RONNIE CHIN/The Star
RESIDENTS in Taman Ipoh Timur, better known as Ipoh Garden East, and the surrounding area are getting increasingly frustrated by the frequent accidents on Jalan Perajurit, especially at the Persiaran Perajurit 3 junction.
Irene says residents have been facing risks of accidents at the junction for 15 years.Jalan Perajurit is a major road used by Ipoh folk, especially those living in residential areas like Taman Kaya, Taman Kemuncak and Taman Perak.
It also leads to other housing areas in Bercham, Tambun and Sunway City Ipoh.
Residents who spoke to StarMetro attributed the numerous accidents to inadequate speed humps, low dividers, speeding vehicles and a lack of proper signage on the road.
Retiree Irene Lee, 67, who lives in Taman Kaya, said they had been facing these issues for the past 15 years.
“There is a coffeeshop on Persiaran Perajurit 3 and that is where we turn right to reach our houses from Jalan Perajurit.
“The cars usually give way but motorcyclists like to cut in and turn,” she said during a town hall session organised by the Ipoh City Council (MBI) following numerous complaints from residents.
The town hall was held at the empty space near the Rukun Tetangga in Taman Ipoh Timur on Aug 14.
(Seated from second left) Choy, Ahmad Munir and Howard addressing residents during the town hall session organised by MBI.
Irene said accidents occurred daily and sometimes there were even multiple accidents in a day.
“The number of vehicles from Sunway City, Tambun and Bercham has increased significantly, adding to the traffic.”
Irene said another issue faced by the residents was motorists parking their cars illegally near the hawker stalls and the junction at Persiaran Perajurit 3.
Marie says it is impossible to enter and exit the junction safely.Despite there being plenty of parking space behind the shophouses, she said these motorists refused to pay for parking.
“What measures will the city council take to address this issue besides issuing summonses to deter illegal parking at the junction’s entry point?” asked Irene.
Housewife Marie Lee, 65, a resident of Taman Kemuncak, also voiced similar concerns about accidents.
She shared her own experience of having a near-miss at the junction, which she attributed to heavy traffic flow and a reckless motorcyclist.
Taman Ipoh Timur residents responding to MBI’s proposals.
“I signalled to turn right but a motorcyclist just sped past, cutting me off.
“Cars are coming from the residential area. Trying to turn right (onto Jalan Perajurit) is almost impossible because of the heavy traffic and everybody seems to be fighting to enter and exit the junction,” she said.
Murali says the divider on Jalan Perajurit is too low.J. Murali, 56, who has lived in Taman Ipoh Timur since 1992, said the Persiaran Perajurit 3 junction was known for accidents, some fatal.
“There have been plenty of accidents here, and not all of them are reported.
“The motorbikes are especially noisy at night and it is unbearable,” he said.
Murali suggested imposing a speed limit, and wants higher speed humps be placed before the junction.
He said there was once a bus that rammed into a house, resulting in the death of two elderly people.
“Two weeks ago, a girl met with an accident at this junction and the police had to be called,” he added.
Murali also said that dividers at Jalan Perajurit, near the junction, were too low which resulted in motorists accidentally driving over them.
“It is also lacking signage with reflectors,” he said.
Residents checking the details of MBI’s proposed one-way streets and traffic light placements.
Installing traffic lights
To mitigate the risks at the junction, MBI has proposed installation of two traffic lights: one at the junction of Persiaran Perajurit 3 and the other at Laluan Perajurit 1.
It is also proposing for part of Lebuh Perajurit 2, Lintasan Perajurit 6 as well as Persiaran Perajurit 6 to be turned into one-way streets.
Irene was optimistic that the measures would help remedy the situation.
“The traffic lights will help make it easier for motorists to turn from the junction,” she said.
Rajesh doesn’t perceive MBI’s proposals to be a long-term solution.Taman Kaya Residents Association president K. Rajesh Kumar Sharma, 53, said he believed the proposals by the city council to instal the traffic lights and one-way street system would improve traffic flow efficiency but did not perceive them to be long-term solutions.
He said a long-term solution should be considered, especially with the developments in the area, including an upcoming university, shopping centre and a hospital.
“This road will serve as a major feeder route and the traffic is already bad now. There will be a lot of traffic here soon,” said Rajesh.
He complained that those who were coming from Persiaran Perajurit 3 often parked their cars there before walking to nearby coffeeshops, and this impeded traffic flow on both sides of the road.
“The residents want to enter and exit Jalan Perajurit but it is difficult.
“The signage is not adequate, especially when you want to turn right but can’t see the oncoming cars.
“I hope the road signage can be placed higher for better visibility,” he said.
Fears of longer queues
However, not all residents believe that traffic lights are the best solution to the problem.
Song is concerned traffic lights will worsen congestion.Private tutor Song Wai Kit, 33, from Taman Ipoh Timur expressed concern that the proposed traffic lights would worsen the situation.
“The queue will be longer and it will be harder for residents (on Jalan Perajurit) to come out of their homes.
“If there are two traffic lights in close proximity, it could also pose a danger as some drivers would speed up to avoid getting caught in congestion when one light turns amber,” he said.
“I think just one traffic light would be sufficient.”
He also noted that building more dividers would not be a good solution “as many motorists have hit the existing dividers”.
Christine Lee, 70, a retiree living along Jalan Perajurit, also opposed the proposal to instal traffic lights.
“I believe that making Jalan Perajurit into a one-way street would be more effective in addressing the issue.
“Even if MBI were to make it one-way, it would still need to address the speeding issue. A traffic light in front of people’s houses would cause long queues,” she said.
Engagement sessions
During the engagement session, Ipoh Timur MP Howard Lee said about 84% of residents in the surrounding area had agreed to having two traffic lights installed on Jalan Perajurit.
He also said about 54% of the residents agreed to having the one-way street system proposed by the city council.
“This issue has been going on for decades. There is an uptick in traffic and there must be an evolution in the traffic system and the infrastructures.
“I would like to thank the city council for taking the residents’ complaints into consideration,” he said.
Howard said an engagement session with the residents had been held during Ramadan this year.
“In March, we received suggestions from the residents.
“Canning assemblyman Jenny Choy then went around with city council officers for public engagement in June,” he said.
“Voting slips were given out to the residents for them to choose the possible solutions that could be implemented, which is how we worked out the majority views,” he added.
Choy said that she and Howard often engaged with the residents to get their feedback and opinions.
“We are ready to help the residents here to solve their problems,” she said.
MBI secretary Ahmad Munir Ishak said the city council would conduct a thorough study, taking into account the feedback gathered during the town hall session.
“I understand that there are difficulties for vehicles to enter and exit the residential areas at the junction, as well as traffic congestion during peak hours.
“We will consider the residents’ opinions and suggestions,” he said, adding that he believed the proposals for the traffic lights and one-way route system could reduce the frequency of accidents at the junction.
“Once the study is conducted, we will table the suggestions to the residents in three months.
“As for the lack of parking bays near the shophouses, an additional 50 parking lots can be created in the area,” he said.
MBI traffic engineer Izdihar Niszar Syafiq, 37, said some of the residents’ suggestions and concerns were valid and would be considered before a final decision was made.
“We currently have two proposed traffic lights: one at the Jalan Perajurit-Persiaran Perajurit 3 junction, and the other about 30m away at the Jalan Perajurit-Laluan Perajurit 1 junction,” he said.
“If we proceed with the installation of two traffic lights, we will ensure a green-wave system, whereby the lights turn green in sequence.”
