By Karen Bong
KUCHING, April 18: The first bicycle track in the city, spanning a little over 5km along the residential areas of Jalan Keranji 4 to Jalan Kedandi and passing Stutong Community Market in Tabuan Jaya, is now 80 per cent completed.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Traffic and Works Committee chairman Simon Lau disclosed that the first phase of this project, costing RM1.7 million, started in October last year, and it was expected to be completed in June this year.
“This is the first bicycle track in Kuching in the MBKS jurisdiction. We fought really hard to get the funds for three years,” he told reporters during a working visit to the project site.
This project, he pointed out, was part of efforts to realise MBKS’ vision to create a clean, green, beautiful and liveable Kuching city.
“We are entering another chapter into the development of Kuching as a Garden City and Healthy City. This bicycle track and the upgraded footpath with handicapped tactile and guiding blocks are among the features of a garden city,” he explained.
The aim, Lau added, was to make Kuching city healthier, safer, resilient, inclusive and with a sustainable environment, where cultures, businesses and life can thrive.
“These projects are carried out based on the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Sustainable Development Goal 11 — Sustainable Cities and Communities,” he said.
The bicycle track covers Lorong Keranji 4F, Jalan Wan Alwi, Jalan Setia Raja (next to Stutong Community Market) until Jalan Kedandi.
“It provides an additional and safe path for cyclists as well as joggers by separating them from vehicles on the roads,” he shared.
Earlier, Lau, together with MBKS councillors and engineers, also visited and inspected the project to upgrade the footpath along major roads at Padungan and Ban Hock Road area with handicapped friendly ramps, tactile and guiding blocks to cater for the visually impaired.
This first phase of the footpath upgrading project covering Jalan Ban Hock, Jalan Central Timur and Jalan Deshon is now 50 per cent completed, and it is expected to be done in July.
“This project, which started in January this year, covered a length of 3,789 metres and costs about RM1.5 million,” he revealed.
“We are trying to create a more walkable and handicapped-friendly city so that the visually impaired people can access and navigate their way in this part of the city.”
Lau added that MBKS has plans to expand these two projects to more areas under its jurisdiction, provided there is enough money to implement them. — DayakDaily
