PETALING JAYA: Part of the Sultan Iskandar Highway (formerly Jalan Mahameru) has been closed after a portion of the road sank, causing major traffic congestion in the city.

The depression was first detected on Tuesday and caused the closure of the highway's left lane, just after the Jalan Damansara-Jalan Parliament turn-off.

Since then the depression has got worse, forcing traffic to be diverted to Jalan Parliament Wednesday.

Star Radio Traffic tweeted that the jam stretched all the way to Jalan Tun Razak.

City traffic police chief Asst Comm Mohd Nadzri Hussain said repair works are being done.

"We urge everyone to avoid using this road for the time being and use alternative routes," he said in a statement Wednesday.

He said road users can use Jalan Kuching, Jalan Kinabalu, Jalan Damansara, Jalan Parliament and Jalan Tun Razak (South) as alternative routes out of the city.