New covered walkway to ease traffic congestion along Damai Road
KOTA KINABALU: A new covered walkway from Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School (STTSS) to Damai community centre is expected to ease traffic congestion along Damai Road upon completion of the project by the year-end.
The 310-metre walkway, which costs RM625,000, is funded by the State Government.
Likas community development leader (PPM) Datuk Chin Shu Ying said the covered walkway would encourage parents to pick up their children from the parking lot at Damai community centre, thereby reducing traffic congestion along Damai Road.
“We are aware of the traffic congestion caused by parents who park their vehicles by the roadside outside STTSS in the early morning and after school. With the walkway, which we hope can be completed by the year-end, parents will be encouraged to park their vehicles at the Damai community centre. Students can then walk to the parking lot at the community centre regardless of rain or shine,” he said, when inspecting the progress of the project with Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) transportation and traffic department director Kalvin Liaw yesterday. Chin said STTSS had put forward its request to build the covered walkway to him which he then channeled to the State Government for consideration. The State Government subsequently allocated funds to City Hall to implement the project, he said.
He hoped that STTSS would encourage students and parents to make use of the car park at the Damai community centre instead of parking by the roadside and causing traffic congestion.
Meanwhile, Liaw stated that the project was part of City Hall’s programme to improve walkability in the city. He said construction of the covered walkway started at the end of October this year and is supposed to be completed by March 2018.
“We have, however, requested the contractor to complete the project this month before school reopens.
“The contractor has informed us that work could be completed in two weeks time if there is no rain.” As of October 2017, STTSS has recorded 2,519 students attending school there.