Residents Against Road Closure

A NOTICE announcing the closure of Jalan Tanjung in Bandar Utama has residents in the area up in arms.

The road serves as an entrance and exit point for motorists travelling between Bandar Utama and Tropicana.

The road was also frequently used by motorists from Bandar Utama and Tropicana to get to and from Kota Damansara and Sunway Damansara via Persiaran Surian.

Tropicana Residents Association vice-president Mohamed Shukri Zain said they were in the process of collecting about 6,000 signatures from residents in the area, including Sunway Damansara, Sunway Opal, Damansara Lagenda and Riana Green Condominiums.

One way only: A signboard informing motorists that Jalan Tanjung will be turned into a one-way street for cars coming out of Tropicana starting Nov 26. Motorists are advised to use Persiaran Bukit Utama as an alternative road into Tropicana

“Many of the residents do not want the road to be closed. We will be meeting the mayor (Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman) to hand over a petition,” said Shukri, who is heading the action committee.

He said that even though the road was owned by the Bandar Utama developer, it was a matter of public interest as many other people used the road besides Tropicana residents.

“When the agreement was made between the developers of Tropicana and Bandar Utama to temporarily use the road as an access, there were no other residential areas.

“But, over the years, many other developments have sprung up,” Shukri said.

He said the main access through the Tropicana tunnel would not be able to cope with the traffic if Jalan Tanjung was closed.

“It would merely shift the congestion from that junction to the BU11 junction,” he said.

He said that in the interest of public convenience, residents were calling for the state government to acquire the land under the Land Acquisition Act 1960.

Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) public relations officer Zainun Zakaria said the notification signboard to change the traffic flow to one-way was put up by the developer, not the council.

“So far, the council has not made any decision on the road closure. Any decision would have to go through the Infrastructure and Traffic sub-committee,” she said.

She added that the council would discuss the feasibility of acquiring the land for public use.

The sub-committee is scheduled to meet on Nov 11.

STAR

[tags : opaldamansara condo property home residents sunway semid condominium ODJMC]