The second stage of the road project connecting Jalan Harapan with Jalan Damansara in Petaling Jaya has opened on Monday (10 July), reported The Star.
Motorists can now finally use the portion of the link road running from SSTwo Mall to the intersection between Section 17 and Section 19 along Jalan Harapan.
Construction of the road began in 2013, but it was delayed several times because of the inefficient contractor and other projects like sewerage upgrading works. There were also issues with different utility firms, which were instructed to relocate their pipes and cables in the vicinity to make way for the road.
Petaling Jaya Mayor Datuk Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain alleged that one of the major problems involved transferring the underground link box owned by electricity firm Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB).
This is because the company wanted to charge RM800,000 to remove the link box, while the city only allocated RM100,000 for this purpose. The power firm had also set a stringent condition.
“TNB insisted that we can only use their panel contractors if we wanted to relocate the link box, that is why the reason for the delay in Phase II,” he said, adding that the cost and the contractor selection are still being negotiated.
“Due to the relocation issue and the high pricing given by TNB, we have decided not to relocate the link box at the moment and just complete Phase II for now,” added City Councillor Jamaliah Jamaludin.
However, a representative from TNB refuted the information provided by the Petaling Jaya City Council.
“We are ready to relocate the 300m-long underground cables and an earthing link box for about RM150,000 and this also includes cost for the necessary equipment.”
TNB also didn’t require the city council to choose from their panel contractors. The spokesperson said that the link box can be transferred as long the contractor’s equipment conforms with its specifications and the firm is licenced by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).
The RM15 million road project, spanning three phases, is expected to be fully completed by 2018. The first stage runs from former Rothmans roundabout (now a traffic light intersection) to SSTwo Mall.
Work on the third phase, which will stretch from the traffic lights in Jalan Harapan all the way to the Sprint Highway, will commence after all land acquisition issues have been revolved.
Image sourced from The Star
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