KUCHING, June 28: Works to build the long-stalled traffic light interchanges at the five roundabouts from Kota Samarahan to Stutong will resume on July 1.
Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) chairman Dato Peter Minos said the resumption of the construction works will bring much relief to Kota Samarahan residents, who have endured serious and heavy traffic congestion, especially during peak hours, on a daily basis for many years.
“Monday (June 27) was a truly happy day for Kota Samarahan. One, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas was made Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Pro-Chancellor.
“Then later in the afternoon, the Deputy Premier (Uggah) announced that the works on the long-stalled traffic lights project at the five roundabouts (in Kota Samarahan) will resume by July 1,” he said in a press statement today.
Minos emphasised that Kota Samarahan is starting to see “light at the end of the tunnel” going forward as the resumption of the long-delayed project will relieve the now infamous traffic congestion in the area.
“Both MPKS and people of Samarahan are naturally happy. Happy for the Deputy Premier’s (Uggah) appointment and happy that their worst ‘headache’ of having to face daily massive traffic jams, is seeing the light at the end of a dark tunnel,” he added.
Minos is optimistic that happier days will surely come to Samarahan with many projects and activities coming up including the Autonomous Rapid Rail Transit (ART) system and the Samarahan boulevard.
On the traffic light interchanges project, it was reported that the Public Works Department (JKR) will engage a “rescue contractor” to take up the works that are expected to take 15 months to complete by October 2023.
Three roundabouts are in MPKS jurisdiction and two others are under Kuching South City Council (MBKS) jurisdiction.
The five roundabouts are located at Setia Raja–Samarahan (near Stutong Community Market), Stutong–Samarahan (Tabuan Tranquility), ILP/LKIM Interchange, Sarawak Heart Centre–Samarahan Interchange and Unimas–Samarahan Interchange.
The initial RM47-million upgrading project that started in Oct 24, 2020 following an earth-breaking ceremony by Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg faced a sudden stoppage of work during the Covid-19 pandemic period. — DayakDaily
