One-way traffic flow soon for Ipoh commercial area

Mayor: Change will affect several roads in First Garden to ease daily congestion, reduce accidents

SEVERAL roads at First Garden commercial area in Ipoh, Perak will now become one-way to ease traffic congestion and reduce accidents.

Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the roads included Lorong Taman 9, Lorong Taman 10 and Lorong Taman 11.

“The congestion there occurs in the morning, afternoon and evening.

“There have also been several minor accidents near the junctions,” he said in a press conference after a townhall session with residents.

“We plan to realign traffic flow on these roads, while also increasing the number of parking bays at the First Garden basketball court.

“The end of Lorong Taman 9 nearest to the shophouses will also be closed off with the construction of a kerb,” he added.

Rumaizi said works were expected to start next month.

“The project will cost about RM100,000 using constituency funds from Jelapang assemblyman Cheah Poh Hian.

“The works will include construction of new kerbs, dividers, a small roundabout and new road signs,” he said, adding that it would take between two and three weeks.

Rumaizi said 51 more parking bays would be added.

“There are currently about 180 parking bays in the area, so there will be 231 when the project is completed.”

Separately, the mayor said 2,562 units of free rubbish bins had been distributed to residents in First Garden by Ipoh City Council (MBI).

He said 29 units of 660-litre rubbish bins and 93 units of 240-litre rubbish bins were also distributed to shophouses in the commercial area.

“As of today, we have distributed 84,547 units to people in the city.”

On an unrelated matter, Rumaizi said works to maintain and upgrade drains to prevent flash flooding on roads were expected to be completed soon.

The areas include Menglembu and Klebang.

“While we cannot expect zero flash floods, we will try to lessen the impact,” Rumaizi said.