Thieves targeting road signs, accessories at Pan Borneo Highway

KUCHING: Cases of stolen traffic management and control accessories at the Pan Borneo Highway construction sites of late have resulted in the lack of safety in these areas thus increasing the risk of accidents to road users.

According to Road Safety Department (JKJR) Sarawak director Davina Agnes Enteli, such incidents had occurred in several project sites based on complaints made by the contractors.

“The accessories targeted by the thieves are mainly flashing lights, plastic barriers and aluminium or steel signs posts, which were placed at several Pan Borneo routes that are currently under construction.

“They are often stolen and the minute they get replaced, the next thing we know, the accessories are gone yet again,” she said when contacted yesterday.

She added that among the projects that faced this problem were along Mile 11 to Mile 15, Jalan Kuching- Serian near here.

Davina disclosed there were many complaints from road users on the less than satisfactory safety aspect of these roads particularly at night.

“We received many complaints on the Pan Borneo Highway construction project for this route, maybe because the route involved heavy traffic.

“Nevertheless, the problem of stolen traffic management and control accessories is also the cause for this issue ( lack of safety) and not solely because of the contractors,” she said.

In view of this, she reminded contractors carrying out Pan Borneo Highway projects particularly at active traffic lanes to always adhere to the Traffic Management Plan to ensure that no problems in terms of safety aspect arise.

On a related matter, Davina also revealed that other complaints received were on inexperienced flagmen.

“They have in fact been trained by the police on how to control the traffic but sometimes they also face quite a daunting task particularly at the construction of lanes which are at high-risk areas.”