New Flyover over the former Roundabout One/Traffic Lights Junction

The Roundabout One in the 1980's have faced many transformation,  an indication of the rapid development of Bintulu town since its first boom days.

In 2014 the Roundabout One was turned into a Traffic Lights Junction.

Today, the site is witnessing a major transformation as a flyover is under construction above the traffic light junction.

To have a good history of roundabouts in Bintulu, please check my other blog by following this link....>>>https://bintulub4now.blogspot.com/search/label/Roundabouts

Roundabout 3 Before, Major Traffic Lights Junction Now

In 1990, Bintulu had its biggest roundabout at KM 5, Bintulu- Miri Road. The Roundabout was plainly called Roundabout 3. At a corner of the roundabout was located JKR's temporary stock pile area for road and infrastructure construction materials.  An indoor badminton stadium was also built at one end of the state land on which the two facilities were built.

Looking at the place today, the changes is beyond recognition.  That site has been taken up by commercial buildings development undertaken by the private sector.

As at the point of writing the commercial shophouses are ready for occupation.  

As Bintulu moved into its Millenial Growth Era ( i.e. after its last fourth boom) and starting in 2016, the town remains the brightest star in its capacity as Sarawak's prime example of rapid physical development,  socio-economic progress, urban population growth and proper town planning.

Date taken : September, 2021.

 

Date taken : August, 1990.

Recent Developments around the former Roundabout 3

View of Roundabout 3, at KM 5, Bintulu-Miri Road circa mid 80's.

Aerial view of Roundabout 3

Much have changed in the infrastructure developments around the former Roundabout 3.  The area is about 5 km from Bintulu town.  Today, we see mammoth signboards giving it an ultra urban look.  The roundabout has been turned into a traffic lights junction. The latest development can be seen at right of the picture below.  Many blocks of 3 and 4-storey shop houses have been completed, though not yet occupied at the point of writing.  The main site of the shop houses was previously  JKR's temporary stock pile area and an indoor badminton building was situated there too.
As Bintulu moved into its Millenial Era ( after its last fourth boom) and starting in 2016, it remains the brightest star in its capacity as Sarawak's prime example of rapid physical development,  socio-economic progress, urban population growth and proper town planning.

View of recent development around the former Roundabout 3, now Traffic Lights Junction at KM 5 Bintulu- Miri Road.
Date taken : 30 June,2021.

Date taken : 30 June,2021.
Camera: Redmi 9A h/p.

 

Aerial view of roundabouts - 80's to 90's

From aerial photo to satellite image - Roundabout 1 - 3

For more story about the development of Bintulu's first major roundabouts i.e. Roundabout One to Three (R1-R3) please go to my posting in another blog here

Roundabout 3 in 1990

Roundabout 3 - view looking towards Bintulu- Miri Road
Location : The R 3 is located 3 miles ( 5 km)  from Bintulu town centre
Date taken : 14 August,1990

 In 1990 there were four roundabouts in Bintulu.  The picture above shows the Roundabout 3, located at Km 5, Bintulu- Miri Road.  It was the biggest roundabout in Bintulu in the 1990's.  Over time all the four roundabouts were replaced with traffic lights junctions.  The building on top of the hill to the right is located within the Bintulu Police Divisional complex.  The yellow cover at the foreground are the yellow variety leaves of the Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) which was a popular ground cover for landscaping in the 1990's.  In the 1990's the landscaping and beautification of Bintulu were a cooperative effort involving three major agencies..i.e. the JKR (Public Works), SESCO and BDA. 

Traffic Lights junction replaced the roundabout
Picture taken : 28 January, 2014.

Aerial view of Roundabout 3 showing the landscaping works at the roundabout and traffic islands surrounding it.
Date taken : circa 1990
Note the striking yellow colours of the Sweet potato cover plant at the traffic islands surrounding the roundabout.
The roadside planting and roundabouts landscaping during this time were  mainly advised by Arthur George Alphonso, Bintulu's first horticultural consultant....go here to see some other projects George was involved in Bintulu ..>>http://mybintuluhistory.blogspot.com/2007/09/bintulus-first-horticultural-consultant.html

Roundabout Two in mid 1980's

The above roundabout was called Roundabout Two in the 1980's
It was well-landscaped and turfed. The stretch of roadside trees  are Angsana (Pterocarpus indicus)

 In the above picture the white building at the top left corner is the "Dewan Suarah"or civic centre.  The Dewan Suarah was built at the cost of RM 7 million and was opened on 5 July, 1988.

Date taken : 27 September,2013.
In place of the Roundabout Two, the local authority (BDA) introduced the traffic lights junction and was fully operational in early 2012.

When the local authority introduced a traffic lights junction to replace the roundabout, a new dual carriageway was built as alternative route to the Bintulu town ( as seen at the bottom left of the picture).

Roundabout 3 - 1984

Date taken : 1984 ( Colour photo)

In the early 1980's when Bintulu was beginning to open up its hinterland, there was a need to disperse traffic coming in and out of town in an orderly fashion. This roundabout was called R 3 ( Roundabout 3) and is about three miles from the Bintulu town. Looking straight to the far background is the Bintulu - Miri highway. The road towards the left of the picture leads to Tanjung Kidurong, a new satellite township provided with modern facilities, a new deep-water port and a new heavy industrialised zone area to cater for oil and gas business. The picture also shows a worker in the process of planting the roundabout with cow grass ( Axonopus compressus) which became the standard turf for the landscaping of Bintulu roundabouts, traffic islands, road medians and road shoulders. Note the permanent structure on the top right of the picture. This building was and still is today the Headquarters of the Police Department in Bintulu.

Date taken : 1 Jan'11 ( Digital - Sony Cyber-shot)

Today, Bintulu boasts of a city image with over-sized advertising board. The board stands right in the midst of a traffic island of a traffic junction nearby that replaces the old roundabout after having lived its useful life. But alas, the CELCOM advertising board appears alien amidst Bintulu's greenery and clean image.

Mile O - early 1980's

Date taken : 13 May'1984 ( Colour photograph)

View of Bintulu town from MO ( Mile O ) i.e. start of the JKR maintained road radiating out of Bintulu town to Kidurong Highway, Higway to Sibu and Highway to Miri. Note the landscaping using low cover plants, the three big buildings on the right belong to government agencies. Of importance to the small town of Bintulu then was the Customs office -cum godown and stockyard area (red roof) . Closest to the foreground on the right is the Forestry Office.

Date taken : 25 November'2010

Of significance in the above picture are the Melanau sunhat-styled roofing structure of the public market buildings built by the BDA ( Bintulu Development Authority). In the Melanau language the sunhat is called " Saong" or " Terendak" in Malay. The one closest to the foreground( in light green colour roofing) is the 'Tamu ' or jungle produce market. The two other buildings in the far background in blue coloured roofing are the 'Pasar Utama' which houses the vegetable and fish and poultry market as well as drinking and eating stalls on their first floors.