Three lanes of landslide-hit Jalan Mahameru reopened to traffic
KUALA LUMPUR: Three of the four lanes at a stretch of Jalan Mahameru in the direction of Jalan Tun Razak have been reopened to traffic after they were closed early yesterday following a landslide that brought down trees and debris at that portion during a storm.
Kuala Lumpur Traffic Police chief ACP Rusli Mohd Noor, when contacted, said the three lanes were reopened at 1pm and traffic flow was heavy as relieved motorists jammed Jalan Mahameru to get to the city.
“One lane remains closed to enable Kuala Lumpur City Hall ( DBKL) workers clear an uprooted tree,” he said, adding that several traffic policemen had been assigned for traffic control at the location.
The road closure at 3am following the landslide, which occurred as a result of a heavy rain on Tuesday night, caused a 10-km traffic jam all the way from Sungai Besi. Rusli said the congestion was expected to ease later yesterday after the completion of the clean-up operation.
Meanwhile, the stretch of Jalan Ampang to Bukit Nenas is still closed to traffic in both directions as work is underway to recover three more cars buried in a landslide there on Tuesday night.
At 7pm last night, nine cars were buried in a landslide in Jalan Ampang in front of the Dang Wangi LRT station.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib, when contacted, said a major landslide from a height of 20 metres and over 100 metres wide had occurred in Bukit Nenas.
“We have carried out follow-up action and directed the Malaysian Public Works Institute (IKRAM) to study the strength of the slope. DBKL will fell any tree found to be unsafe in the area,” he said.
Ahmad Phesal said there was abnormally heavy rainfall of 147 mm on Tuesday compared to the usual rainfall 30- 35 mm. — Bernama