OVERPASS TO OVERCOME JAM

INSPECTING.... Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin inspecting the road leading up to Matahari Furniture with representatives from the Sabah Railway Department.

By : SHALINA R

DATUK Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin, Sabah's Deputy Chief Minister cum Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, visited Petagas recently to take a closer look at some development projects in the area, including a newly constructed road that leads to Matahari Furniture.

"Previously, there was no proper road here as it was blocked by the railway line. With the allocation provided by the state government and the cooperation of the state's Railway Department, the space can now be utilized as an alternative road for motorists travelling to Papar," said the Deputy Chief Minister who was referring to the road next to furniture shop.

He said the road serves as a temporary solution to alleviate the severe traffic congestion that regularly occurs during rush hours.

He added, "Our proposal to upgrade the main road from Petagas to Lok Kawi has already been approved by the federal government. The current two-lane road will be expanded to three lanes on both sides of the road."

"In the longer term I would also like to propose that the Public Works Department conduct a study on the feasibility of constructing an 8 km long flyover that will start from the Petagas River, near the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, and finish at Lok Kawi," said Yahya.

"This proposal is more reasonable and realistic compared to the previous one that I have made. That includes the coastal road proposal that might cost more compared to the flyover proposal."

The Deputy Chief Minister said, "The population in the area is growing rapidly and the number of vehicles on the road has also increased by the thousands. Besides that, this is the only road that leads to Sarawak, Brunei and other interior parts in the state. Traffic from Tawau has also increased since the completion of the Sepulut Road."

"This has resulted in traffic congestion that can go on for miles, reaching up to Melinsung and Papar," he added. "Some people get up at four in the morning to get to work in Kota Kinabalu."

Yahya also went to inspect the upgrading works of the village road in Talang Taun Village and the RM124 thousand Sekambu Road Maintenance Project. He also took the opportunity to visit 2 recipients of the Bantuan Rumah Programme (PBR) in Sekambu Village. (Insight Sabah)