THE Selangor state government will build an interchange that will provide direct access from the Federal Highway to Section 7, Shah Alam, at the Sg Rasau Toll Plaza area.
State local government, study and research committee chairman Ronnie Liu said the new interchange would provide better traffic dispersal and an alternative access into Shah Alam, thus facilitating better access to i-City, UiTM, Unisel, a hospital that is being built, as well as factories and residential areas.
“The state government will fork out about RM50mil to build the interchange.
Plugging in: Ng (centre) launching the Hibiscus in the sky as Eu (right) and I-Berhad deputy executive chairman Datuk Lim Kim Hong look on. “Construction is expected to begin in a year’s time, and will take two to three years to complete,” he said, adding that bidding for the project would be done through open tenders.
Liu said the state government would use money from the state budget to fast-track the construction and apply for federal funding later.
“LLM (Malaysian Highway Authority) has already approved the interchange concept.
“It will initially be owned by the state government and if the Federal Government provides the funding later, the interchange will be handed to them through the JKR (Public Works Department),” he said.
It is hoped that the interchange will be an impetus to improve the public transport system in Section 7 and increase economic activities in the city.
“The residents will benefit in terms of better accessibility and an increase in property value,” Liu said.
He hoped that the construction of the interchange would be approved at the mid-term review of the 2010 state budget at the next state assembly.
According to him, the interchange is among the state government’s efforts to provide better public facilities and infrastructure in ensuring that Shah Alam becomes a centre of a new economy.
There are now three interchanges from the Federal Highway into Shah Alam — Batu Tiga, Bulatan Melawati and Bulatan Bunga Lawang.
“The new interchange is needed in light of the expected increase in traffic and would be helpful in directing visitors to i-City,” said Liu.
He also announced that the state government had approved the gated concept for i-City.
“We will help where we can to make i-City become an international hub.
“This includes having more activities in i-City, thus adding to the vitality of Shah Alam,” said Liu.
“There is a need to turn i-City into a gated campus because of security issues.
“It is an international park with MSC status, and there are a lot of foreign companies that will be operating their businesses there round the clock.”
I-Berhad CEO Eu Hong Chew, whose company is the developer of i-City, said the concept for a gated but open community was to beef up the security in the City of Digital Lights.
“Our focus is to take care of the township services like landscaping, rubbish collection and traffic management.
“The gated concept for i-City will cover 29ha,” he said.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen recently launched i-City’s latest unique offering — the dazzling Hibiscus in the Sky.
The light show features laser LED beams shooting through the night sky, creating different shapes and sizes with the central theme being based on the national flower, the hibiscus.
Ng described the vibrant music and creative light show as a digital display of a heavenly garden.
“Families should bring their children and friends to experience the light show, which is also a great photo opportunity,” she said.
She added that i-City had taken a bold step to invest millions of ringgit to create a new tourism product using technology and talent.
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