Penang Watch

Tuesday January 16, 2007

Still waiting for bridge

LOCATED along the Jalan Tengah road stretch in Bayan Baru, Penang, are two schools, a private hospital, a government clinic, a fire station, a police station (under construction), a petrol station, and a hypermarket.

This stretch is inevitably choked with traffic during peak hours. Scores of students and their parents use this road daily. Pedestrian safety has been become a major issue of concern. 

Our Association held a dialogue with Giant Hypermarket and local authorities more than 17 months ago to discuss this issue and also on ways to regulate the traffic flow around the hypermarket.

We were promised by the newly established hypermarket then that a pedestrian bridge would be built in between the two schools.

However, until today there are still no signs of the pedestrian bridge. 

The dialogue also included the proposal for a road divider fronting the two schools to be built for the safety of pedestrians and motorists. This will also prevent haphazard U-turns made by vehicles. 

Our Association calls upon Giant Hypermarket as well as the local authorities to put these infrastructures in place soonest this year to reduce road accidents and potential fatalities. 

CHAN KIM BENG, 

Hon Secretary 

Residents’ Association of 

Bandar Bayan Baru, Penang.