Kundasang: What should be a 10-minute drive became a journey of up to four hours as thousands of holidaymakers flocked to Kundasang during the long public holiday period from May 30 to June 2.
It exposed mounting concerns over the area’s increasingly strained road infrastructure and what the relevant authorities are doing about it.
The popular highland destination has been packed with visitors since the start of the school holidays, with tourist arrivals surging from across Sabah, Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia and overseas.
While traffic congestion between Pekan Kundasang and Pekan Ranau is a familiar sight during peak holiday periods, local residents said this year’s situation reached a new level, particularly along the 6.2km road leading from Pekan Kundasang to Kg Mesilou.
The worsening congestion highlights the growing popularity of Kundasang’s tourism sector, which continues to drive economic opportunities for local communities through hotels, homestays, restaurants, farms and tourism-related businesses.
However, residents and road users say the area’s infrastructure failed to keep pace with this rapid growth.
Factors contributing to the congestion include the sharp increase in tourist arrivals during school holidays, the expansion of accommodation facilities and tourism attractions, limited road capacity, frequent vehicle movements into tourist premises, and the presence of heavy vehicles using the same routes.
Concerns were further amplified when a section of the main road leading to Desa Farm Mesilou suffered serious damage and flooding believed to be caused by a burst underground pipe.
Continuous water flow reportedly weakened the road structure, resulting in cracks and potholes.
Residents noted that the road from Kundasang town to Mesilou has not undergone significant upgrading for many years despite increasing traffic volumes.
Motorcyclists and drivers of smaller vehicles were among those most affected by the deteriorating road conditions.
Police urged road users to plan journeys early, utilise alternative routes where possible, comply with traffic regulations and avoid dangerous driving practices.
Alternative routes suggested include the Jalan Ranau-Tambunan corridor via Tanbiau Sarapong, as well as routes connecting Kundasang through Dumpiring, Mohimboyon and Tambiau Sarapong.
Authorities also reminded motorists not to park indiscriminately along roadsides, warning that illegal parking significantly slows traffic movement.
Enforcement operations targeting speeding offences, dangerous overtaking and drink-driving were also conducted throughout the holiday period.
Meanwhile, traffic dispersal operations concentrated in heavily congested areas, particularly around Pekan Kundasang.
A Kampung Mesilou resident, who identified himself only as Asrin, said a journey from Mesilou to Kundasang town recently took him two hours.
“I left at 5pm and only arrived home at 7pm. Fortunately, I did not need to stop for a toilet break.
“If travelling from Mesilou to Kundasang takes this long, imagine how much longer it would take to reach Ranau,” he said.
Asrin said authorities should seriously consider long-term solutions including road widening, traffic lights, flyovers and improvements to alternative roads.
“We are all relying on the same road. That is the main problem,” he said.
