TUN RAZAK LINK TO EASE TRAFFIC

The link, which opened yesterday, will benefit 25,000 motorists

NOR AIN MOHAMED RADHI AND JULIA FIONA

KUALA LUMPUR news@nst.com.my

SOME 25,000 motorists will benefit from the new Tun Razak Link (TR Link), one of the arteries under Phase 2 of the Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (Duke) project. Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the 9km link, opened to motorists at 5pm yesterday, would ease congestion in Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Pahang roundabout and Jalan Duta interchange.

“The TR Link will boost (traffic dispersal of the) Duke Expressway by providing alternative routes for commuters travelling to and from the city centre.

“Another link under Duke Phase 2, Sri Damansara Link (SD Link), is 98.2 per cent (completed) and is expected to be ready by the end of the year,” he said after launching TR Link yesterday.

TR Link begins in Jalan Tun Razak near Kuala Lumpur Hospital and the National Heart Institute. It traverses northwards along Jalan Pahang and Jalan 9/48A, and connects with Jalan Gombak after crossing Duke at the Sentul Pasar Interchange.

On May 23, part of the TR Link route was opened to motorists under a traffic management plan during Ramadan.

Construction of Duke Phase 2, which includes TR Link and SD Link, began in December 2014 at a cost of RM1.18 billion.

The project is managed by Konsortium Lebuhraya Utara-Timur (KL) Sdn Bhd (Kesturi), in collaboration with Ekovest Bhd.

Duke Phase 2 project director Zakaria Shaffie said TR Link could reduce congestion in Jalan Pahang and offer an alternative route for vehicles from Jalan Tun Razak.

“TR Link provides five lanes for Touch ’n Go, SmartTag and radio-frequency identification (RFID) users, as well as two lanes for motorcyclists.”

Present at the launch were Malaysian Highway Authority director-general Datuk Ismail Md Salleh, Kesturi director Tan Sri Lim Kang Hoo and managing director Tan Sri Lim Keng Cheng.

Fadillah said more RFID lanes would be opened next year.

“The pilot project has begun at SmartTag lanes of the Batu Tiga toll plaza, the Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (Akleh), Elite Expressway and New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE).

“Some 8,000 public service vehicles, including from the Fire and Rescue Department, police cars and ambulances, which are exempted from paying toll, are involved during the trial period.”

He said Malaysia was expected to fully adopt the RFID and multi-lane free flow processes by 2020.