Seputeh MP Teresa Kok today urged highway authorities to expedite the opening of the Setiawangsa–Pantai Expressway that passes through her constituency.

Teresa said she had attended a meeting with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on Friday and was informed that Jalan Loke Yew will be closed in phases from tomorrow (Oct 2) until October next year for construction works.

"I told them if they want to close an important road, at least open SPE.

"But they answered, the plan is to only open in mid-November," Teresa told reporters gathered with Taman Desa residents by an inner road along the SPE.

The former minister also said she had visited various sites together with SPE project concessioner Lebuhraya Duke Fasa 3 Sdn Bhd in August, and subsequently written to Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok (left) with Taman Desa Residents' Association president Wong Chan Choy

"I told him (Nanta) that I was informed (by the project concessionaire) that the SPE had been completed on May 21.

"So in May, they already completed, but until today it's not opened.

"I'm not happy and worried about the traffic tomorrow when the road (Jalan Loke Yew) is closed," added Teresa.

The 29.8-kilometre expressway connects Taman Melati and Klang Gates from Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2 to Kerinchi Link - from north to south of Kuala Lumpur - across areas such as University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Wangsa Maju, Setiawangsa, Ampang, the Tun Razak Exchange & Bandar Malaysia development corridor and Kerinchi.

On that note, Taman Desa Residents' Association president Wong Chan Choy said a delay in the opening of SPE will worsen their daily commute to the city centre, with more than an hour of crawling traffic being a normal occurrence.

"I have stayed here for 34 years. Last time, there was no divider (on the main road).

"Now there is a divider, and later when they close Jalan Loke Yew, residents here cannot do a U-turn there anymore," said Chan.

DBKL, in a statement on Friday, said the road closure and traffic diversions will be done to facilitate the construction of a bridge at Bulatan Loke Yew, Jalan Sungai Besi heading towards Sg Besi/ Petaling Jaya.

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