Nurin Iwanee Mardhiah, 25, who lives in Section 19, said the SMART Tunnel would be a good addition to the city’s infrastructure given the traffic she experiences on her daily commute to work.
“Even the 6km drive from my house to work in Section 51 can take around 40 minutes, being stuck in traffic during peak hours,” she told FMT.
While she expects some temporary congestion during the tunnel’s construction, Nurin believes the longer-term benefits outweigh any short-term inconvenience.
“I think the SMART Tunnel will be beneficial for the future, especially since Petaling Jaya’s population is increasing,” she said.
On May 29, the Petaling Jaya City Council announced the proposed construction of a 1.98km SMART Tunnel to alleviate traffic congestion in the area and for flood mitigation.
The proposed tunnel is intended to traverse Sections 51 and 51A, Federal Highway Route 2, and the New Pantai Expressway at an estimated total cost of RM350 million.
Fauzi Hassan, another Section 19 resident, said there was no reason for citizens to protest the project, given the tunnels’ dual benefits.
The 66-year-old explained that the SMART Tunnel is designed to channel and direct water into reservoirs, especially during excessive flooding.
“There are benefits to the project. When people don’t understand the SMART Tunnel concept, they will protest it. If they knew the benefits, they wouldn’t,” he said.
FMT previously reported stakeholders cum Residents Against PJD Link (ScRAP) group chairman David Yoong arguing against the SMART Tunnel’s construction, citing its high cost and lack of traffic studies on the Jalan 51A/223 congestion.
Yoong suggested cheaper alternatives like a flyover, which he claimed would be more cost-effective.
However, Fauzi defended the tunnel’s cost and said it was reasonable as a flyover would occupy more land space and affect nearby residential areas.
Ee Chern Yang, 30, also expressed support for the project, but hopes it will not cause disruption to residents through heavy traffic and noise, especially from large vehicles.
Presently, he said, traffic can get particularly bad, especially during peak hours.
“Every time they try to construct a new thing or new road, there will be more traffic jams on the highway or nearby roads. But after that, it will improve the situation of the road,” he said.
‘Too costly, not useful’
Samrull Hairay, a resident staying in Section 51, called the project a waste of the people’s money, saying that there was no need for a SMART Tunnel in the city.
“We haven’t heard that the areas where they want to build it are flood-prone. The tunnel’s distance is 1.98km and its construction cost is in the millions, so I feel it’s a waste,” he said.
The 39-year-old said the government should focus on enhancing existing roads and drainage systems to tackle traffic and flooding issues effectively.
“The tunnel’s construction may lead to other issues such as congestion. So, I think the best option is to improve what’s already there,” he said.