Traffic study to be made in 6 key areas
SIBU: United People’s Party (UPP) Community Service Board here expects to start its traffic study in six key areas here by July 1 this year.
This was disclosed by its board chairman Dato Andrew Wong yesterday.
The project will cost about half a million ringgit to implement.
“We will be undertaking the traffic study as soon as negotiations with the traffic consultant is completed. We expect it to start by July 1, this year.
“The expected duration ( to complete the project) will depend on the final scope of work. A proper traffic study will take anywhere between six and 12 months,” Wong told The Borneo Post.
“Once completed, we will be forwarding our suggestions to Sibu Municipal Council ( SMC) - suggestions in line with our vision of transforming Sibu into a university town.”
He said they need the traffic consultant to be clear on what they want for each key area as well as the immediate, medium and long term solutions.
“We will be bearing the cost of this traffic study. We have identified bottleneck areas outside Sibu Town CBD (central business district) area.”
The six key areas identified for the study are Jalan Wawasan/ Jalan Teng Chin Hua’s junction – the roundabout in front of UCTS, Jalan Deshon/ Persiaran Brooke, Jalan Ling Kai Cheng/ Jalan Deshon, Jalan Oya/Jalan Pedada near SMK Sacred Heart, Jalan Oya/Jalan Wong King Hoe and Jalan Permai going up to Ulu Oya Road.
These six areas were identified by their infrastructure development committee.
It had been 22 years since the last traffic masterplan was carried out.
“The last traffic study conducted in 1995 is outdated as the vehicle registration has grown by six per cent each year – the number of vehicles having doubled,” he said.
Thus, it is imperative that a traffic study be conducted as soon as possible.
He said the traffic study would not be conducted in the CBD area which would require more time and more collaborative effort.
Instead, the study would focus on other areas - not only look at traffic congestion but also pedestrian safety.
On another matter, he said they had allocated RM300,000 for the hose reels pilot project in Bawang Assan. They were identifying two longhouses for this initiative.
Wong said if it proven successful, it would be implemented in longhouses which have f ire hydrants, training provided.