(May 19): Daily traffic congestion that has been plaguing motorists using the Templer roundabout at Jalan Othman in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, is expected to be reduced by half with the conversion of the site into a traffic-light junction (TLJ).

Petaling Jaya mayor Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain, who announced this today, said the trial run on the TLJ had begun since Sunday.

"We are in the midst of testing the system. We should have it synchronised in the next few days," he said at a press conference at the MBPJ headquarters this afternoon.

Azizi said that the main issue was to get the timing of the TLJ right and ensure that there was minimal traffic congestion.

"MBPJ, the police and contractors will be monitoring the traffic situation in the area during the trial period.

"The police will be on standby during peak hours from 7am to 9am and from 5pm to 7pm daily," he said.

The project was first mooted by MBPJ in 2013 to ease congestion in Jalan Templer but the work was delayed due to the relocation of utilities.

Azizi said that the RM3.14 million project was supposed to be completed in August 2014, but the deadline had to be extended twice.

He said that MBPJ had experienced several issues with Syabas underground piping that had to be shifted to make way for the widening of Jalan Templer to Jalan Gasing.

"There was a delay, but we managed to get Syabas to shift the pipes and the work was completed in April,"he said.

Azizi said that MBPJ would also be patching the roads, constructing new pedestrian walkways and upgrading the drainage system in the area.

He added that all work was expected to be completed in two weeks.

For many years, residents and motorists have been facing massive traffic jams during peak hours at the roundabout.

The route is popular with motorists getting to the New Pantai Expressway and Jalan Klang Lama from Jalan Templer, Jalan Gasing and Syed Putra highway. – The Malaysian Insider