Kota Kinabalu: The Public Works Department (PWD) is in the process of dismantling Sabah billboards in areas that obstruct the view of motorists.
However, its District Engineer Edward Lingkapo, stressed that it was an ongoing measure and had nothing to do with Monday’s collision between a train and fuel tanker at Jalan Kepayan that left a dozen train passengers injured.
“Our focus is mainly on billboards whose permits had expired and were not renewed by City Hall (DBKK),” he said. There had been suggestions that Monday’s incident at the illegal crossing was partly due to the fuel tanker driver’s view of the oncoming train being obstructed by the giant billboard there.
Edward said work on dismantling such billboards has been on going since late last year and continued this year.
“It so happened that the said billboard is being dismantled not because of the accident,” said Edward adding that it had been earmarked for removal since early this year.
Edward said a claim that the accident occurred because the billboard was blocking the lorry driver’s view was “merely speculation”.
He said several billboards had already been removed by PWD near the KKIA Terminal Two, among others.
Edward said many billboards erected within he city would have to go after City Hall (DBKK) did not extend their permit.
“Once the permit is not extended, it should be removed.
However, the contractor who owned the Billboard (near the crash site) refused to dismantle it, thus forcing PWD to act.
However, he said due to the financial constrain, PWD is unable to expedite in dismantling the Billboard adding that PWD is working closely with DBKK over the Billboard problems.
19 Oct 2016