MIRI: The current implementation of Marina Park City development is being executed according to the project masterplan’s specification approved by Sarawak Planning Unit (SPA).
Miri mayor Lawrence Lai said the effort in scrapping a total of 44 parking lots in the median road is as stipulated in the original plan.
“SPA has approved a dual carriageway for the implementation of the Marina development in 1995.
“However in 1998, the Miri City Council (MCC) and Land & Survey Department during a traffic committee meeting, agreed to use the space of the median road temporarily for public car parking purpose,” he stated to media in a press conference on Friday.
Lai said the decision was made following a public request to have more parking lots in the area.
During that time, he said the traffic volume was not heavy and the effort to turn the area for a dual carriageway had yet to commence.
Thus, the council and L&S Department agreed to use the space temporarily for the council’s car parking purpose.
“Now, the developer wants to use the space for them to carry out the dual carriageway according to the original plan.
“There is no reason for us to stop them from doing so because what they do is legal.”
The dual carriageway is important as an alternative link to connect the new access road of Marina project to the city centre via Miri Waterfront.
The dual carriageway is one of five new access roads to the city and the full completion of the roads would ease traffic congestion as main access to the city centre.
To allow for the road widening project, the council has to dismantle another 19 parking lots in the affected area.
As a replacement, the council has identified available state land in front of Wisma Rela Aman to build 63 new parking lots.
The council has also increased another 18 parking lots at the back lane of Chan’s Clinic and Teo’s Clinic.
The construction of the road at Miri Waterfront was stopped as Miri MP Dr Teo Yu Kheng expressed unhappiness with the decision to scrap 44 parking lots.
To date, Dr Teo has launched a petition against the road project while he also questioned the legality of the project.
The developer is hoping to continue with the road construction works next week and will take about a month to complete.
Thus, the developer is hoping to start the works next week without any objections, as the project and the engineering plan is following the letter of the law.