Jalan


Raja Laut/Jalan Dang Wangi-Jalan Kuching Bridge

DBKL


is in the midst of constructing an arch bridge over Sungai Gombak to connect


the Jalan Dang Wangi and Jalan Raja Laut junction to Jalan Kuching as well as a


U-beam bridge as the connecting ramp to north-bound Jalan Kuching. The arch


bridge will dedicate two lanes for cars, one motorcycle lane and two pedestrian


walkways.

Construction


of the RM32mil project started on July 18, 2013, and is expected to be


completed in May next year.

At


present, motorists in Jalan Raja Laut heading towards Jalan Kuching will have


to go through Jalan Sultan Ismail. With the completion of the bridge, it will


shorten the journey by 850m for those heading towards Lebuhraya Mahameru and


1.4km for those heading towards the city centre.

Some


experts feel this is a flawed plan as the bridge will only channel traffic from


one congested road to another.

A


traffic engineer, who did not wish to be named, said Jalan Raja Laut and its


surrounding areas would be congested during peak hours and so would Jalan


Kuching.

A


consultant says traffic congestion is also caused by vehicles from Lebuhraya


Mahameru crossing over to the ramp heading towards Jalan Stesen Sentral.

"I


cannot see how this bridge will ease the congestion by merely providing a


shortcut to another congested road.

"Another


potential problem is that traffic from Jalan Esfahan, which is only about 100m


from the start of the bridge in Jalan Raja Laut, will have to cut across three


lanes of flowing traffic in Jalan Raja Laut to get onto the bridge.

"Criss-crossing


causes traffic to slow down. In my professional opinion, it is better to let


the current traffic system remain," he said.

However,


another traffic consultant disagreed, saying the bridge would help motorists


bypass several congested spots including the Batu Road School at the end of the


Jalan Raja Laut-Jalan Sultan Ismail junction.

"Roads


with schools are prone to congestion because of vehicles waiting by the road


side to drop off and pick up students during peak hours," he said.

New


Jalan Duta-Lebuhraya Mahameru Tunnel

Kuala


Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib announced that a two-lane tunnel


would be built at the cost of RM40.67mil next to the existing tunnel to double


its capacity, which was at maximum during peak periods.

The


three traffic experts who spoke to StarMetro on condition of anonymity, do not


think the new tunnel is a good idea as they foresee a similar criss-crossing


traffic problem as with the Jalan Raja Laut bridge.

One


consultant said the traffic congestion was mainly because of vehicles from


Lebuhraya Mahameru crossing over to the ramp heading towards Jalan Stesen


Sentral while vehicles from Jalan Duta cross to Jalan Damansara.

"With


four lanes coming from Jalan Duta in future, and a distance of only about 350m


between the tunnel exit and road divergent, the criss-crossing traffic will


become worse and further slow down traffic," he said.

DBKL


says

Kuala


Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Public Works and Drainage Depart-ment director Tan Keng


Chok said the local authority had weighed all angles before approving the


projects.

An


artist's impression of the U-beam bridge.

"We


approve a project because we are sure it will benefit the public in future.

Tan


explained that the arch bridge project was important as Jalan Raja Laut was


always congested and traffic flow was expected to increase because of new


commercial development in the area.

"Current


level of service at peak period is D, which is approaching unstable flow. This


project is to cater for the increased traffic flow and to ease congestion at


the Jalan Sultan Ismail-Jalan Raja Laut junction," he said.

Tan


said a traffic study was carried out in 2007 to analyse current traffic


condition, forecast future condition and devise mitigation measures.

"The


report shows the number of cars exiting Jalan Raja Laut onto Jalan Kuching will


be more than double by 2027.

"In


2007, there were 1,860 vehicles using Jalan Kuching and this figure will


increase to 4,556 in 13 years' time.

"Implementation


of the arch bridge and ramp bridge will generate significant traffic reduction,


especially in Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Sultan Ismail, more than 30% in the


peak hours.

"The


bridges will disperse traffic from the central business district to Jalan


Kuching faster.

"As


the traffic study shows that more traffic is north-bound on Jalan Kuching,


especially during the evening peak period, the new bridge links will


significantly reduce the congestion in Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Sultan Ismail,


and also the adjacent streets such as Jalan Dang Wangi and Jalan Esfahan," he


added.

As


for the Jalan Duta upgrading plans, Tan said the existing tunnel underpass was


constructed in the 1990s and based on the site view, it it is no longer able to


cater for the current high volume of vehicles.

He


explained that the steep road gradient of Jalan Duta before entering Lebuhraya


Mahameru was also one of the main reasons for the heavy traffic.

"The


steep road gradient causes vehicles, especially heavy vehicles, to move slowly


and this results in delay along Jalan Duta.

"There


were also cases of lorries breaking down inside the tunnel or underpass,


causing traffic jam along Jalan Duta for the whole day," he added.

Tan


believes the new tunnel will solve the backed-up traffic on Jalan Duta heading


towards the city centre.

"With


the additional tunnel, it is a four-lane dispersal for traffic from the


three-lane Jalan Duta.

"Proper


signage will be erected to guide motorists towards the appropriate lanes.

"As


such, a better traffic flow can be established to ensure smooth movement along


Jalan Duta during peak hours," he concluded.