WEDNESDAY-5TH DECEMBER 2007-WORKS ON FLYOVER TO INTENSIFY

Works on flyover to intensify
KOTA KINABALU:
Works on the flyover at the Karamunsing intersection will continue at intensified speed regardless of the weather conditions, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah yesterday. Tan, who is also the Infrastructure Development Minister, said he wanted the construction works on the nearly completed overhead road to carry on regardless of the weather to ensure the long waited infrastructure could be fully completed soon to help ease the worsening traffic congestion in the City. “I want to see the works continuing and in order to be on schedule, they’ll have to work under whatever conditions, even if it rains,” he said. He said the construction progress was still behind the initial schedule and the daily downpour had slowed down the works but assured that the remaining structural works would be completed within this month and the flyover would be fully opened to traffic early next year after the additional works, which include the installation of flood lamps and levelling process, are completed. “I was made to understand by the Public Works Department (PWD) officer-in-charge that the flyover is now near completion with only five to 10 percent of the structural works left to be done. “Hopefully we can have all the structural works completed before the end of the year,” Tan told reporters after officiating the PWD’s Quality Day here yesterday.
In the meantime, he advised motorists to be extra cautious when passing the intersection, especially at night or during heavy rain. As more workers and machineries are being sent to the construction site, the roads near the intersection are narrower as they have been partially closed for the construction works, he said. He suggested motorists use alternative routes whenever possible to avoid worsening the traffic congestion around the intersection, especially during peak hours. Tan also disclosed that another flyover to be built at the Kepayan-Lintas junction near the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) Terminal One is expected to commence construction early next year. He said the ministry is currently in the process of finalizing the design with the contractor, Global Upline. “The designing process took a long time because the flyover is not just an ordinary one. It is going to be a big one,” said Raymond, adding the designer needed to take into consideration future upgrading of the existing road as well as construction of new ones in the area. He said the flyover meant to relieve traffic flow along Jalan Kepayan, would also serve as a direct access to Terminal One as well as Jalan Lintas and the coastal ring road which will be built alongside the KKIA runway.
IHe said the flyover could cost more than RM4O million depending on the final design which is expected to be submitted by the contractor end of this month. “The actual cost will be assessed when the final design is completed but it would definitely cost more than the average flyover which requires RM3O-RM4O million each,” he said. Meanwhile, Tan urged the PWD officers to strive towards improving the public’s perception towards the image of the department. He said the department should always take good care of its image as it is much more difficult to effectively deliver development to the people if its integrity is being doubted by the public. In this regard, he said all PWD officers and staff must constantly renew their commitment towards achieving better quality in all aspects of their job.
Tan reminded that although the department places high value on quality in providing its services, this appreciation of quality can only be accurately projected and shared with the public if all officers and staff are committed in delivering every task given to them responsibly and with emphasis on quality. According to him, the PWD plays a crucial role and shoulders an equally crucial responsibility in the implementation of infrastructure development.