Mounting traffic woes along the Klang–Shah Alam route prompt calls for government intervention
With rising fuel costs, the situation is seen as a significant burden for private vehicle users as well as transportation and trading companies that commute daily within the Klang Valley.
SHAH ALAM – As the government encourages people to be more frugal, especially in fuel usage, traffic congestion along the Klang–Shah Alam route has emerged as a major obstacle.
Based on a survey conducted by Sinar, congestion has been worsening and has become more apparent and critical in recent years.
With rising fuel costs, the situation is seen as a significant burden for private vehicle users as well as transportation and trading companies that commute daily within the Klang Valley.
A private sector employee, Ikhwan Abdullah, 40, who uses the route daily, said the unpredictability of travel time has affected his work routine and daily life.
“Daily travel is very uncertain. Some days take longer than usual and that affects work schedules and rest time,” he said.
Another commuter, Mastura Osman, 38, expressed concern over rising fuel costs when stuck in prolonged traffic.
“When you're stuck in congestion for a long time, costs go up because the engine is running even when the car is not moving,” she said.
Meanwhile, a highway user residing in Shah Alam, Mohammad Shaffi Adam, 27, said current access to the West Coast Expressway (WCE) is still inefficient as he has to travel towards Kuala Selangor to enter the expressway, especially during peak hours.
He said a proposal to temporarily allow access to Section 4 via a U-turn route is seen as a practical step that could help improve daily traffic flow in the area.
“I currently have to head towards Kuala Selangor to access the WCE, which takes quite a bit of time, especially during peak hours,” he said.
Although temporary, he said the initiative could help alleviate traffic congestion, particularly in Shah Alam, Klang and surrounding areas, while awaiting the full opening of the planned alignment.
“At the same time, safety, traffic flow and compliance with authorities’ guidelines must continue to be prioritised to ensure smooth and safe implementation for all users,” he added.
The congestion issue has also drawn attention to Section 4 of the alignment, which has yet to be opened to the public despite appearing physically complete.
The approximately 4.5-kilometre stretch, which connects the Federal Highway to the main WCE network, is seen as having strong potential to serve as an important alternative route to ease traffic pressure along key Klang Valley corridors, especially during peak hours.
According to previous media reports, the temporary U-turn access has met safety requirements and inspections by relevant authorities have already been carried out.
Meanwhile, a civil servant, Aida Hayati Azis, 36, believed that the availability of alternative routes could help reduce traffic pressure in the area, although not as a long-term solution.
“At the very least, it can provide some relief to daily users and help reduce existing congestion, even if it is only temporary,” she said.
She added that prolonged traffic congestion also affects productivity and work-life balance, particularly for those living in major urban areas in the Klang Valley.
In this regard, it is reasonable for the government to make the right decisions in the interest of the people, who are currently facing a global energy crisis following the conflict in West Asia.
As the impact of the crisis affects multiple sectors, including infrastructure construction projects, existing projects such as the WCE should be given due attention.
The Works Ministry has also projected that more road construction and maintenance projects nationwide may face delays due to rising building material prices and diesel costs caused by the ongoing crisis.
Download Sinar Daily application.Click Here!
