By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, Aug 19: The upgrading of Jalan Cahaya, which links Miri Airport to the Pan Borneo Highway, is expected to be tendered next year after the design phase is completed, with the road set to be widened into a dual carriageway to ease chronic traffic congestion in the area.
Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the project has already been approved under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) and is also listed under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
He said consultants are currently finalising the design for the road widening works and are expected to complete the process by the end of this year.
“The project has already been approved and Jalan Cahaya will be expanded into a dual carriageway. The consultant is still carrying out the design work, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Therefore, the project will be put out for tender next year,” he said after inspecting traffic congestion issues at the entrance to Lorong Cahaya 3 here on Tuesday (Aug 18) as reported by TVS.
While awaiting the implementation of the project, Lee said a short-term solution is needed to ease congestion affecting residents of Taman Lopeng Baru.
To address the issue, the Public Works Department (JKR) and relevant utility agencies will work together to carry out temporary widening works at the junction and access road leading into the housing area.
“We need a short-term solution to enable residents of Taman Lopeng Baru to exit more easily and reduce congestion.
“JKR will collaborate with utility companies to provide temporary widening at this junction,” he said.
Lee said the proposed widening works must take into account the location of underground cables and existing utility infrastructure belonging to Sarawak Energy, Sarawak Gas and Sarawak Water to avoid service disruptions.
The temporary widening will create separate lanes for vehicles turning left and right, reducing bottlenecks caused by the current single-lane exit.
“At present, there is only one lane. All vehicles exiting the area, whether turning left or right, have to queue in the same lane, resulting in serious congestion within the housing estate. With this widening, we hope some of the traffic congestion can be alleviated,” he said.
He added that the initiative follows feedback and complaints from residents regarding persistent traffic congestion in the area.
JKR will prepare a cost estimate for the temporary widening works before seeking the necessary allocation for implementation.
“This is also a request from residents in the area. I have discussed the matter with them and received feedback on the issue.
“Today, I arranged a meeting with all the relevant agencies. Since this road falls under JKR’s jurisdiction, JKR will undertake the widening works and provide an additional lane as a temporary measure,” he said. — DayakDaily
