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The Public Works Department (PWD) is deliberating over how best to improve the traffic flow on roads approaching the Kolombong flyover. 

This action was prompted by separate feedback about the bad congestion which formed on the sections of Jalan Tuaran Bypass and the Lintas-Kolombong ring road.

The driver who spokeout about these road woes expressed her displeasure in writing to Hotline. Her letter was forwarded to the Department.

A PWD spokesman said a team from the agency’s Traffic Section went to the Bypass and ring road, shortly after being contacted by the media.

He said they monitored the movement of vehicles on these stretches, before brainstorming on possible ways to diffuse the jams which formed there.

“We intend to close some of the U-turns on the Bypass,” he said.

“We have noticed that many accidents occur when motorists are trying to make a U-turn. Many drivers find it difficult to make this turn and hesitate, hence increasing the risk of running into, or colliding, with an oncoming vehicle.”

He said this indecision gave rise to a jam as the driver wanting to turn inevitably forced other road users to wait behind him/ her.

“We may have a continuos U-turn, which would merge the traffic from one fast lane to another fast lane, put in place at strategic locations.”

The spokesman said the U-turn closures were a mid-term solution which the Department was working towards.

“We are in the midst of putting together the paper work to put our plan in action

AMYLIA of Tuaran bemoaned the “bad congestion” which occurred on Jalan Tuaran Bypass and Jalan Lintas-Kolombong ring road, when she drove to and from her work place in Luyang, on week days.

She said, on many occasions, it took her more than two hours to complete the journey between her home and office.

“This is because some of the traffic lights only turn green long enough for a few cars to move forward,” she said.

She singled out the traffic lights near Taman Inanam Laut and Suria Inanam on the Bypass, as well as those near the junctions to Jalan Cenderakasih and Jalan Mangga on the ring road.

Amylia said the jam on the former stretch was especially pronounced during the peak hours before and after office hours in the morning and late afternoon.

“The traffic banks up all the way till Kg Darau and Bataras Manggatal.” 

She claimed to have noticed that the traffic lights at the U-turn near Suria Inanam and the ones near Taman Inanam Laut did not function synchronously. 

“With the current setting, the traffic lights for Suria Inanam turn red while those at Taman Inanam Laut turn green. Owing to this, the movement of vehicles between the two lights slows down tremendously.”

She said, at times, it took between 15 to 30 minutes for drivers to cover the distance which separated the two traffic lights, especially on weekday mornings.

Amylia was of the opinion that both sets of lights needed to turn green, or red, at the same time in order for the traffic to flow smoothly.

She also felt that the duration of the green light needed to be extended.

“The way it is now, only 10 cars can pass, at most, before the light turns red. I estimate that the light only stays green for less than 30 seconds.”

The number of road-users travelling between Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran was particularly high, according to her.

“So, the light needs to stay green for at least a minute in order to cater for the substantial number of vehicles on the Bypass.”

Amylia called on the Department to consider applying the same strategy involving the timing and synchronicity of the green and red light changes to the traffic lights near the Jalan Cenderakasih and Jalan Mangga junctions on the ring road.

The spokesman said its personnel checked on the goings-on at the different traffic lights, shortly after learning about Amylia’s grievance. 

“The timing for the lights was changed on this occasion and we are in the process of trying to determine if the sensors, which control the flow of traffic, are working as they should,” he said.

“Repairs will be made, if they are found to be malfunctioning in any way.”