By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 9: The Jalan Urat Mata road upgrading project, which will transform the existing two-lane road into a four-lane carriageway to ease congestion along the Jalan Song, BDC, Tabuan Jaya and Jalan Wan Alwi corridor, has been allocated RM2 million under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said the engineering design for the project has been completed, marking a key milestone before the initiative proceeds to the next implementation stages.
Wee explained that Jalan Urat Mata is a vital urban distributor road linking major residential and commercial areas within Kuching South, including Jalan Song, BDC, Tabuan Jaya and Jalan Wan Alwi.
“The 1.32-kilometre stretch, with a 25-metre-wide road reserve accommodating carriageways, drainage systems, footpaths, utilities and green verge areas, currently operates as a two-lane, two-way road.
“This has resulted in insufficient capacity and recurring congestion, particularly during peak hours as traffic funnels towards the city centre.
“The engineering design has been completed. The next step is to appoint a consultant to finalise the detailed drawings before the project proceeds to the tender stage,” he said during his ShallWeeTalk live session today.
Wee noted that while the original proposal envisaged a full upgrade from two lanes to four lanes over a longer stretch of about two kilometres, the scope has since been reassessed and refined to focus on phased widening works under Phase One, with subsequent phases to follow.
Under the revised plan, approximately 700 metres of widening will be carried out on the right-hand side from the Jalan Song–Jalan Urat Mata intersection to Lorong 7, while another 300 metres will be widened on the left-hand side from Lorong 3 to the Jalan Urat Mata–Jalan Wan Alwi intersection.
He said the phased approach allows the council to optimise the RM2 million allocation by prioritising key congestion hotspots first.
A more detailed presentation of the project will be unveiled during its official launch. Following that, the project will proceed to the open tender stage before construction works begin.
“This is an important initiative to improve traffic flow in Kuching South. Jalan Urat Mata plays a crucial role in the urban road network, and its upgrading will bring significant relief to commuters,” Wee added. — DayakDaily
