Road widening works along Lebuh Cator, Ipoh, which is home to a few educational institutions.
THERE are concerns that the widening of Lebuh Cator in Ipoh, Perak, will turn it into a “highway”, posing a threat to schoolgoing children in the area.
Old Andersonians’ Club (OAC) former president Datuk Anwar Hassan feared it would lead to more vehicles and heavier traffic once completed.
He said there were several education institutions in the area, included SMK Anderson, SK Cator Avenue and Lebuh Cator Vocational College.
“There will now be four lanes along the road which is widely used by schoolchildren,” he said when met during a visit there.
“I feel that it will not be safe for students to use the road,” he added.
Anwar claims road widening works have caused damage to the concrete fence of SMK Anderson in Ipoh, with seven cracks found on it.
Anwar said the increased traffic would also make it more noisy and could end up disturbing the students.
“The Northern Kinta District Education Department office is also situated in the area,” he said.
He also claimed the road widening works had damaged SMK Anderson’s concrete fence, which faced the vocational college.
He said the school, founded in 1909, is a heritage school.
“We noted about seven cracks along the concrete fence, which could cause it to collapse,” he added.
Anwar is also concerned about the construction of a bridge across Sungai Kinta, which connects Lebuh Cator to the other side where a condominium project is being developed.
He expressed concern that the high-rise development too would add to traffic in the area.
He said he had met with officers from the National Heritage Department and Ipoh City Council concerning the issues.
“I suggest that the bridge be closed and alternative routes, such as the one near the Hindu temple in Gunung Cheroh and two more near the St John Ambulance Hall, be made available,” he said.
Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin, when contacted by StarMetro, said he would ask the developer responsible for the widening work to hire someone to direct traffic, especially during rush hour.
“It will be a short-term measure.
“In the long run, we plan to hire a consultant to do a survey on city roads.
“With more properties, there will be more residents and cars on the road,” he said.
