Smoother journeys: An aerial view of the Sri Petaling Interchange of phase two of the highway. (Left) A route map showing the SUKE highway. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The second phase of the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Highway (SUKE) will be opened to the public in a few weeks to improve connectivity to and from Sri Petaling via the Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas) near the Bukit Jalil Sports Complex and Taman Cuepacs (Cheras-Kajang Highway interchange).
Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (Prolintas) group chief executive officer Datuk Mohammad Azlan Abdullah said the announcement on the exact date of the opening of the 7.8km stretch will be done by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
The second phase of SUKE is expected to disperse an estimated 30% of traffic from the Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2), 36% from Jalan Ampang, and 12% from Jalan Loke Yew.
“The second phase completes the main portion of the highway at 24.4km, with only one interchange left to be completed at Alam Damai,” he said in a media briefing yesterday.
The completion of the main line will bring about improved connectivity towards the city centre and Bukit Antarabangsa, especially for motorists from areas such as Port Klang, Bukit Kemuning, Subang Jaya and Puchong who use the Kesas Highway.
There are two new interchanges in the second phase of SUKE – at Sungai Besi and Sri Petaling – while another interchange located at Alam Damai will be open in the third or final phase.
Azlan said overall project progress was over 99%, with the final 1.5km-long interchange connecting the Alam Damai township expected to open in August.
Also included is a new toll plaza at Alam Damai, which Azlan said will not charge users higher than the current RM2.30 collected at other toll plazas along SUKE.
The 16.6km phase one, starting at the Cheras-Kajang Highway (Grand Saga), was opened to the public on Sept 16 last year.
“About 60,000 to 70,000 motorists use phase one of the highway daily, and 30,000 more are expected to do so with the opening of phase two,” Azlan said.
The mostly-elevated (90%) highway was designed to relieve congestion and serve as an alternative route to the MRR2 as it straddles over Bandar Tasik Selatan, Desa Tun Razak and Cheras.
According to data provided by Prolintas, the estimated travelling time via the MRR2 to Ampang, Jalan Loke Yew and Cheras takes 75 minutes on weekdays, and the SUKE is expected to cut that down to 25 minutes.
“I encourage road users to use SUKE as it entails a significant amount of time saved, ensuring a more comfortable and safer journey,” he said.
Meanwhile, the highway’s proposed rest and service area at the Taman Tasik Tambahan in Ampang is expected to begin construction by year’s end.
“The facility is in its final stages of design and planning, and we hope to begin groundwork by the end of the year.
“The one hectare site will comprise a multi-storey building of about 51,700 sq ft of gross area, housing commercial outlets and food stalls.
“It can accommodate some 200 users at one time, not including those who drop by for sightseeing. We hope to make it a point of destination for people to enjoy the view of the city while having their coffee or meal there,” added Azlan.
