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KUCHING, June 8: The Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) announced they have installed concrete barriers and additional plastic barriers with light reflectors to improve traffic flow on the Tamin, Selangau WPC07 Pan Borneo Highway stretch.
According to a JKR Sarawak press release issued today, additional plastic barriers with light reflectors have been installed in several locations along the road lines to prevent road users from making illegal U-turns, as well as concrete barriers to prevent road users from entering sections that has not yet been opened to traffic.
“JKR Sarawak has taken note of the sharing of several videos and photos by members of the public regarding the traffic flow confusion on the Tamin, Selangau WPC07 Pan Borneo Highway recently,” JKR said.
The department revealed that based on reports and investigations, traffic congestion on June 5 was caused by a fatal accident at CH40+000 WPC07, which was exacerbated by a large number of vehicles on the road that day (the last day of the long Gawai holiday weekend).
JKR Sarawak added that while the final phase of construction is still ongoing, the contractor has made a diversion for the route affected by the construction work so that the affected stretch now has two two-way lanes.
“The investigation also discovered that a few road users intruded on the road that had not yet been opened to the public by removing the barriers placed by the contractor because they refused to wait long.
“As a result, other road users enter the road that cannot yet be used (does not have road lines, dividers, and signs) and cause bottlenecks when they reach the end of the road closure.
“This factor explains some of the videos and pictures shared by netizens on social media because vehicles have entered the road that cannot be used which is due to the attitude of a few users who repeatedly move and damage the barriers that have been installed,” it explained.
Meanwhile, JKR Sarawak revealed that traffic safety equipment such as signs, light reflectors, solar lights, and barrier cones placed in strategic locations such as detours and junctions leading into villages had been vandalised or stolen.
“The contractor has been instructed to work closely with the authorities to prevent this from happening again.
“In any case, JKR Sarawak will not compromise when it comes to the safety of the public as long as the highway construction works are ongoing or the road has been opened to the public.
“The contractor has been instructed to continue to improve and add traffic safety equipment such as signs, light reflectors, and direction indicators along locations that have detours, under construction, and dark,” it emphasised.
In addition, JKR Sarawak disclosed that each contractor involved in the project has also been instructed to update JKR Sarawak on their Traffic Management Plan in addition to JKR officers under the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway Branch monitoring the situation.
Also, the contractor has been instructed to open any route that has been physically completed to the public if it is safe to use.
“We at JKR Sarawak recognise the significance of this project to the entire population of Sarawak, as we, our family members, and our friends use this highway. In addition, we do not want undesirable events to occur to those we know,” said JKR Sarawak.
It urged the public to adhere to the established rules, drive carefully and safely, and obey the speed limit. — DayakDaily
