KUCHING: Sarawak will be relying on smart traffic lights to better regulate traffic flow in time to come.
In announcing the plan, State Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, said smart traffic lights which use artificial intelligence would ultimately reduce traffic congestion.
“So, with these smart traffic lights, it will be more efficient and this is what we are implementing in Sarawak,” he said .
Lee said this includes installing smart traffic lights at the Kota Samarahan roundabouts, which would be turned into traffic light intersections.
“This project (traffic light intersections at Kota Samarahan) is ongoing. However, I will get the full report on the project status.
“Having said that, our plan is to enhance the traffic light system where we will upgrade all of our traffic lights to smart traffic lights,” he said when asked about the project status of the Kota Samarahan traffic light intersections.
Earlier, Lee officiated at the launch of the state level road safety campaign in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration 2022 at Jalan Tun Jugah on Monday (Jan 17).
Last week, Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) chairman Datuk Peter Minos had demanded the Public Works Department (PWD) complete the conversion of three Kota Samarahan roundabouts into traffic light intersections as soon as possible.
“The massive traffic jams especially during peak hours at the three roundabouts are getting worse now with the rainy season.
“Just imagine the traffic jams from 5am to 8pm of both mornings and evenings. Imagine taking up to three hours driving through the jams from Kota Samarahan to Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya. Imagine the stress and strain caused,” he said.
