By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Jan 10: The traffic light at Roundabout 4 or the Northbank Roundabout along the Kuching-Samarahan Expressway is near completion and is being tested today.
Infrastructure and Port Development Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who was inspecting the project today, said an announcement would be made when it is operational.
“This morning, we were briefed that the traffic light at Roundabout 4 (Northbank Roundabout) is almost completed.
“Now they are testing to see if it can be used or not, then, as a matter of time, an announcement will be made when it will be operational.
“With the traffic light, we hope the traffic jams which we have been experiencing in this area will be reduced,” said Uggah, whose inspection at the Northbank Roundabout was streamed live through Kuching South City Hall (MBKS) mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng’s social media page.
Apart from Wee, Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) chairman Datuk Peter Minos and Sarawak Public Works (Sarawak JKR) officers were also present.
Uggah, who is also Deputy Premier, said after the traffic light installation project at the Northbank Roundabout is completed, the traffic light installation project at Roundabout 5 (Jalan Setia Raja-Jalan Canna Roundabout) will begin.
“We will not stop at this (the Northbank Roundabout). We will continue to study how to manage Roundabout 5.
“We are going to do Roundabout 5. We have learnt from Roundabout 4 (on) all the issues, and we hope by identifying the issues, we can carry out pre-emptive measures at the nearby Roundabout 5 to reduce traffic jams,” said Uggah.
He said the aim of constructing traffic lights at the Northbank Roundabout and Stutong Roundabout is to facilitate traffic flow to reduce congestion.
According to him, traffic congestion in Kuching has been caused by the rapid increase in vehicle volume, which will result in roads needing to be upgraded.
He thus appealed to road users to be patient, explaining that when a road upgrading project is ongoing, it is inevitable that traffic flow will be disrupted, and the public will suffer inconveniences.
“But management will try our best to see that your inconvenience will be reduced. So bear with us. We hope in the next few months, situations will be improved,” said Uggah. — DayakDaily
