KUCHING: To reduce traffic jams, Kuching North City Commission has proposed turning congested two-way roads into single direction roads during rush hours.
Mayor Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai said the proposal had been submitted but had not been approved.
“The powers that be have not approved it. They felt that we needed to further convince the people (that the system will work),” Abdul Wahap told reporters after launching a campaign with the Road Safety Department yesterday.
He was asked to comment on increasing traffic congestion in and around the state capital.
“Under our proposal, we said certain roads should be turned into single-direction-only roads during peak hours. It might just be for less than an hour a day. We’ve done the general study, but (we) need (to be more) specific.
“We haven’t got the approval because there is some concern that some (residents) might not be happy.
“Some residents will be affected. They’ll have to take longer routes home. However, my feeling has always been, we can’t make 100% (of people) happy, but I think this will be good for the majority of people. This will make it easier (to travel) for more people.”
According to him, the system of traffic control is widely used overseas. In the United States, it is called “reversible lanes” system, while in countries like Australia, New Zealand and Britain, it is better known as the “tidal flow”.
The system enables better traffic flow during rush hours and is cheap to implement, usually just by having overhead traffic lights and street signs modified.
The system is also a common feature used in tunnels and across bridges.
In some US major highways, the reversible lanes are located in the middle, allowing extra lanes in the direction of heavier use, depending on the time of day, thus increasing flexibility.
The mayor said local road users would face more congestion as the city’s population grew with faster rate of urbanisation.
“Even right now, our traffic wardens know that when salaries and pensions are released, the congestion becomes worse.
“We have 20 wardens who go around during peak hours to try to improve traffic flow.
“But, you know, there is an ever increasing number of vehicles, how do you keep widening roads if there is no more space?”
Source: The Star
