Pledge to ease Bukit Padang congestion
Published on: Thursday, March 16, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: The State Public Works Department (JKR) has assured the St Francis Convent Secondary and Primary Schools Management Board, and the St Francis Convent Secondary School Building Committee (SFCSC Building Committee) of long and short-term measures to ease the traffic congestion, especially at the Hospital Mesra, Bukit Padang Junction and beyond.Worsened congestion is anticipated in view of the upcoming new St Francis Convent Secondary School building scheduled for completion before the end of the year.State JKR Director Datuk Ir. Hj Amrullah Kamal gave the assurance during a courtesy call by a 10-member delegation led by the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, Datuk John Wong, at the JKR Headquarters, Tuesday.
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He said the long-term measure is incorporated into the 25-Year Kota Kinabalu Traffic Improvement Master Plan (Phase 2), which was approved by the State Government (2016-2040) last year."Basically, we have plans to alleviate the congestion in Kota Kinabalu in general. The proposed upgrading of the single carriageway Jalan Kolam-Jalan Kolam Minintod, Luyang is included in the Master Plan (Phase 2). "In fact, it is one of the six priority roads identified in the Master Plan and being given attention by the Government. We (JKR) are preparing the design for widening of the 6km-Jalan Kolam-Jalan Kolam Minintod. The design will be completed by February 2018, and the plan is to have three flyovers along this stretch.
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"But if there is light at the end of the tunnel (funding), the design part can be finished much earlier and we can expedite implementation of the road widening works to make the Jalan Kolam-Jalan Kolam Minintod a dual carriageway," he told the delegation. It runs from Bukit Nenas, Karamunsing all the way until the Minintod junction.Ir. Amrullah hoped the Ministry of Works will consider the department's request for priority to be given to the proposed upgrading of Jalan Kolam-Jalam Kolam Minintod.
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According to him, the other five priority roads are Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens-Jalan UMS-Jalan Sulaman (Kuala Menggatal), Sepanggar Intersection, Jalan Lintas (Phase 2) that leads to the Airport, Jalan Ramayah (Putatan), Jalan Rampayan (Kuala Menggatal)."However, we are lucky that the design for the major Sepanggar Intersection has been taken up by the Pan Borneo Highway (as it is along the highway's alignment) while the design and implementation for Jalan Lintas (Phase 2) is under the purview of the Ministry of Works," he said.For the planned access to the school (which is not included in the big plan), the Director suggested that the School Management Board and Consultant Engineer take the initiative to discuss and work out the best solution as a short-term measure. "Perhaps, you can come up with a proposal, say to raise funds. Probably we might assist in a small way. Alternatively, the Board could approach the Federal Ministry of Works on funding for access to the school," he said, adding that the JKR Principal Assistant Director (Traffic & Transportation), Alan Wong Thien Len would assist in coming up with a conceptual framework.Given that the solitary access road (that serves the St Francis Convent Primary School, International School, the Church and potentially the new St Francis Convent Secondary School) is heavily congested, Ir. Amrullah said the Board could explore the possibility of having a temporary road that passes through the land to the new school if allowed by Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK). "This can be an immediate term measure. We are thinking out of the box," he added.Earlier, briefing the Director, Chairperson of the SFC Secondary and Primary Schools Management Board, Mary Florence Gomez said construction of the school began in September 2015 with available funds of about RM3 million. "The school building (excluding the infrastructure) is expected to be completed the latest by September this year," she said.While acknowledging the financial aid from the Federal and State Governments thus far, she said the Board is urgently seeking funds to the tune of RM2,500,000 which is the estimated cost to complete the infrastructure (without furniture) so that the students will be able to move in to the new building the latest by June 2018. In this context, infrastructure encompasses roadworks, drainage system and public utilities."We earnestly hope that the State and Federal Governments will continue to assist us to raise this much-needed sum. In this respect, we need our elected representatives to lend us a helping hand," she said.At this juncture, Chairperson of the Fund-Raising Sub-Committee, Leena Toyoi said she was worried about the difficulties in raising funds for now in view of the less vibrant economy. "Hence the genuine need to reduce the estimated cost of infrastructure development (example, access road) for the new school as far as possible."Archbishop Wong thanked the JKR Director for enlightening the delegation on the Government's plans to relieve traffic congestion.Meanwhile, President of the Alumni of St Francis Convent Schools, Datuk Aminah Ambrose disclosed that the association's 3rd Annual Franciscan Night Dinner & Dance in aid of the School Building Fund will be held on April 22 at the Sabah Hakka Hall.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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