KUCHING: Sarawak Public Works Department (PWD) said it had taken note of public complaints regarding the traffic confusion at the Tamin section of Selangau flyover of the Pan Borneo Highway.
After investigations had been conducted, it said the congestion on June 4 was caused by a fatal accident which occurred along the highway and compounded by a high volume of vehicles on the road on the last day of the Gawai holiday.
“While the construction works for the final phase are still ongoing, the contractor diverted the affected route due to the construction work, resulting in a two-way two-lane road.
“The investigations also found that some road users had trespassed on roads that were not yet open to the public by removing barriers placed by the contractor because they were unwilling to wait.
“As a result, other road users also entered the non-operational roads (without road markings, road dividers, signage), leading to congestion (bottleneck) when reaching the road closure point.
“This explains the videos and images shared by netizens on social media, as some vehicles entered routes that were not yet open due to the repeated actions of a few users who tampered with and damaged the barriers installed,” PWD said in a statement today (June 8).
It revealed that Sarawak PWD conducted a visit led by its deputy director (Infrastructure) Cassidy Morris to the site from Sibu-Selangau-Bintulu on June 6 to personally observe the traffic management plan prepared by the contractor.
The visit also received feedback from the contractor and representatives of Pan Borneo Highway Management Consultancy (PLPS), appointed by the government to assist Sarawak PWD in the monitoring the project.
Regarding traffic safety equipment such as road signs, reflective studs, solar lights, and barrier cones, PWD said the contractor also faced issues of vandalism and theft whenever the equipment was placed at critical locations such as diversions and village entrances.
“The contractor has been directed to work closely with the authorities to prevent such incidents from recurring.
“However, Sarawak PWD will not compromise on public safety, both during the construction works of the highway and when the route is open to the public.
“The contractor has been instructed to continuously improve and enhance traffic safety equipment such as road signs, reflective studs and direction indicators at locations with diversions which are still under construction,” it said.
PWD added that each contractor involved in the project had also been instructed to update the Traffic Management Plan and provide regular monitoring by officers from the Pan Borneo Highway Division of Sarawak PWD.
Furthermore, the contractor has been directed to open any physically completed routes to the public, provided they are safe to use.
PWD also called on all road users to adhere to traffic rules which has been set to ensure public safety.
