The residents said this would help to resolve the current traffic congestion in Jalan Tanjung Bandar Utama.

The Jalan Tanjung Bandar Utama Action Group, which comprises 18 residents' associations and board members from two schools, said the traffic congestion had worsened since the schools reopened.

"The road (Jalan Tanjung Bandar Utama) was closed 85 days ago and although it was later reopened, it did not have two lanes heading out to the Sprint highway and one lane heading in, as before.

"Now, it only has a single lane leading out of the area and this causes congestion," said Tropicana Residents' Association vice-president Mohamed Shukri Zain.

"We are unclear of the status of the acquisition as we were never informed of any work done following the Menteri Besar's announcement."

On Dec 20, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim had announced that the state would acquire the plot, measuring about 800 square metres, from Bandar Utama City Corporation (BUCC).

Shukri said Jalan Tanjung Bandar Utama was badly congested, between 7.30am and 10am daily.

The residents said to make matters worse, BUCC had also placed concrete and plastic barriers and had built a speed bump at the entrance of the ITech Park and this had caused a bottleneck leading to the traffic lights to access the Sprint highway.

"The usual 15-minute journey will take an hour due to the daily traffic congestion. This causes pupils of SJK(C) Damansara located in Jalan Tropicana Selatan to be late for school," said Shukri.

Riana Green Condominium resident Udo Krauss said to avoid the congestion in Jalan Tanjung Bandar Utama, road users were forced to travel an additional six kilometres via Persiaran Surian to access the LDP or Spring highway and four-and-a-half kilometres via Jalan Tropicana Selatan to exit the area and head to the Sprint highway.

"This is a waste of time and petrol and raises more environmental issues," he said.

Krauss said there were about 1,200 units at Riana Green alone and if each homeowner travelled in and out of their home once a day via the alternative routes, they would have travelled a total distance of 441,000km which is equivalent to about 10 times around the globe, which contributes to over 100,000kg in carbon dioxide pollution.

And based on these facts alone, there is an immediate need to reopen the road as before, he added.

Tropicana resident John Chin said that there was a meeting between the state representatives and the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) on Jan 19 where it was decided that the barriers along the road would be removed and the timing of the traffic lights leading to the Sprint highway be increased.

But no action has been taken so far.

Meanwhile, a check with Khalid's office revealed that the acquisition process had begun and the state government was waiting for the green light from the other authorities involved in the matter.