Lee: Pujut 3 roundabout project awaits final road design

MIRI (Feb 10): The Pujut 3 (GK) roundabout project will only be tendered once the road design has been fully completed by the appointed design consultant, said Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.

Lee said that as of this month, only preliminary works have been completed, including the traffic impact assessment (TIA) study and soil investigation for the project.

“We have received many enquiries regarding this project. Yes, the traffic impact assessment study has been carried out,” he told reporters this after a meeting with engineers from the Public Works Department (JKR) here on Monday,

Based on the findings of the TIA, Lee explained that the proposal is not limited to the Pujut 3 (GK) roundabout alone, but also involves widening the existing road from four lanes to six lanes—three lanes on each side—stretching from the Pujut Corner roundabout near Saberkas to the traffic lights at Pujut 7 towards Piasau Garden.

He added that the total length of the affected stretch is about three kilometres.

Lee, who is also Senadin assemblyman, said the project is currently awaiting the appointment of a survey consultant to carry out a land survey of the site, which is in progress, while the appointment of the road or engineering design consultant has yet to be finalised.

He stressed the importance of the project, saying it would address the long-standing issue of traffic congestion in the area, particularly during peak hours.

“Merely installing traffic lights at Pujut 3 would not be sufficient due to the heavy traffic volume. That is why an additional lane is required, resulting in three lanes on each side, or six lanes in total, together with traffic lights,” he said.

Lee said traffic volume along the stretch has almost doubled to 53,983 vehicles based on a traffic census conducted in June last year, compared with 31,179 vehicles recorded in 2016.

“With this project, we aim to reduce traffic congestion and resolve traffic issues along this road, which experiences very heavy usage. Our ministry has received numerous enquiries on this matter, as urban traffic management falls under our purview,” he added.

Also present at the meeting were Miri Resident Galong Luang and divisional engineer Stephen Ung.