KOTA KINABALU: A prolonged bottleneck near the Benoni flyover in Papar, Sabah, has reduced traffic to bumper-to-bumper conditions during peak hours and public holidays for the past several months, triggering mounting frustration among road users.
Motorists said the stretch has been plagued by persistent congestion, significantly slowing travel time along the key route linking Kota Kinabalu, Papar and Beaufort under the Pan Borneo Highway network.
A daily commuter, Mohd Fadzil Rahman, 38, said the bottleneck causes delays of at least 15 to 30 minutes during peak periods, compared with smoother travel conditions previously.
"Every morning and evening, vehicles are almost at a standstill near the flyover. During public holidays, it becomes even worse as traffic builds up several kilometres,” he said.
Noraini Kassim, 45, echoed similar frustrations, noting that traffic flow becomes chaotic, especially when heavy vehicles and construction activity converge at the same stretch.
"The road upgrade is good for the long term, but currently, there is no proper traffic control. It feels like the situation has been dragging on for months without improvement,” she said.
The Benoni flyover, part of the broader Pan Borneo Highway upgrade, was introduced to improve connectivity and support rapid development in Papar, particularly around the Benoni Commercial Centre and surrounding townships.
Authorities have acknowledged broader infrastructure challenges in the Papar and Kinarut areas, with multiple road and bridge projects currently being implemented to address congestion issues.
Aside from these long-term measures, road users are urging for immediate, short-term interventions to ease daily congestion.
Among the suggestions put forward are better traffic management during peak hours, deployment of enforcement personnel to control vehicle flow, clearer signage at diversion points, and temporary widening of bottleneck sections where feasible.
A logistics driver, who only wished to be known as Lim, said delays at the bottleneck are affecting delivery schedules.
"This route is critical for transporting goods between districts. When traffic is stuck, it impacts businesses and increases costs,” he added.
Observers noted that traffic flow adjustments have been periodically implemented to facilitate construction under the Pan Borneo Highway project, but inconsistent coordination may be contributing to prolonged congestion at certain hotspots.
With Papar experiencing rapid urban and commercial development, stakeholders stressed the need for more proactive traffic mitigation measures to balance ongoing infrastructure upgrades with the immediate needs of road users. – Bernama
