KUCHING: Plans to ease traffic congestion along the Matang corridor are being actively studied, including road upgrading works, a potential underpass, or signalised junction at the Emart roundabout and the development of new alternative routes.
Photo: Sarawak Tribune
Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament Petra Jaya, Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof said the first phase would focus on upgrading existing sections of Jalan Matang, while one of the main bottlenecks at the Emart roundabout is currently under review by the Public Works Department (PWD) to determine whether an underpass or a traffic light-controlled junction would be the most effective solution.
“Once the study is finalised, we will pursue the best option.
“Beyond that, we are also looking at connecting Jalan Matang directly to the nearby federal road so that road users will have more alternatives,” he told reporters after officiating the ‘Majlis Perasmian Sumbangan Tahun Baharu Cina bagi Warga Emas dan Golongan Kelainan Upaya’ event at Dewan Serbaguna SUPP Sungai Tengah, Matang.
Fadillah added that a new internal coastal road along the river is also part of longer-term planning, noting that Sarawak Premier has, in principle, considered the proposal.
“The proposed new road from Jambatan Sulaiman to the Matang roundabout is estimated to be about two kilometres long and will provide another access route into the area,” he said.
He acknowledged that traffic congestion is an unavoidable feature of urban areas, pointing out that major cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang also experience similar challenges.
“Congestion often reflects economic growth, as more people can afford vehicles and the number of cars on the road increases.
“No matter how many roads we build, if vehicles continue to increase, congestion will still occur,” he said.
To complement physical infrastructure, Fadillah stressed the importance of technology-based solutions, including the possible implementation of a Smart Traffic Light System by Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara (DBKU).
He said Kuching’s road network, which has numerous junctions, is prone to bottlenecks and requires close coordination with the police to manage traffic flow, including studying options such as one-way road systems in certain areas.
“Traffic planning is not only about physical roads. It also involves technology systems and the attitude of road users.
“Poor parking behaviour, such as stopping along the roadside to shop, can easily cause bottlenecks,” he added.
Commenting on remarks made by Minister of Works, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi recently on the possibility of a state election being held this year, Fadillah said the Sarawak Legislative Assembly’s term ends in February next year, allowing elections to be called at any time within that period.
“For Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), we work for the people all the time, not just during election periods.
Elections are simply a mechanism to return power to the people to assess our performance,” he said.
Earlier, Fadillah attended the ‘Ziarah Kasih Warga Emas’ and food basket handover programme organised by Pusat Khidmat Tupong, which was also attended by Tupong state assemblyman, Fazzarudin Abdul Rahman.
During the first segment of the programme, a total of RM42,000 in contributions was distributed to 150 elderly recipients, while food baskets and essential household items were later handed over to three recipients at their homes in Lorong Sungai Tengah, Lorong Kampung Matang and Lorong Ma Onn.
