Curtin University appointed to carry out traffic study

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BINTULU: Big cities and developing towns cannot escape from traffic congestion but with a proper planning the problem can be effectively minimised.

The general manager of Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) Datu Mohidin Ishak admitted that in Bintulu it has begun to worsen due to rapid growth and the result of the success of development projects in the recent years.

BDA, he said, will be conducting a specific study on its traffic system in Bintulu for the first time and the task will be given to the Curtin University.

“I have talked to Curtin University, the professors in engineering, to study our roads, traffic junction, to do a counting, audit (measurement of road, traffic light). Being a technical university, they will be able to relate what is wrong.

“We will come out with the quotation and approval. This is the way we should do rather than for everyone to just do the talking,” Mohidin said during a press conference after launching the Info [email protected] RTM Bintulu programme at RTM office yesterday.

Among the areas that the Curtin University will look into are the proposed traffic counting, Kidurong roundabout, Medan Jaya and Nyabau traffic junctions, and along the Tun Hussein Onn road junction.

For the study and audit, they will proposed some recommendations to BDA as a local and development authority here to improve the traffic flow and other facilities at the affected areas.

“Once the study is completed BDA will call for a seminar that will involve engineers from Public Works Department (PWD) and BDA, as well as from the private sectors like SHEDA to solve the issues,” he added.

He said Curtin University will also be asked to do a systematic catchment study on several critical areas including Sungai Sebiew and Sg Kemena that need to be audited especially on its current capacity.

Asked when the study is going to be completed so that immediate enhancement can be made, Mohidin said they will have to do it properly based on standard procedures with terms and conditions applied but assured that the study would not take long, before they can asked for budget and approval.

He said these will be the first study to be carried out by BDA on the traffic system and PWD might has their own assessment.

“We have the masterplan but not the specific planning to solve specific problem, and this is the first traffic study to be conducted,” he pointed.

Mohidin was also asked about several main roads that are risky to the pedestrians with the latest case of a pregnant woman killed after she was knocked down by a car while crossing the road near the Medan Jaya Commercial Centre.

He said it is very sad but the people must be more aware of their surrounding and the risks that might come.

The incident occurred along the zebra crossing, and he said nowadays, zebra crossing might give false security to the pedestrians.

“They might thought they are safe but actually they are not and that is why we are very careful before putting the zebra crossing,” he said.