Traffic in Kota Kinabalu (KK to us local folks) is as bad as in Kuala Lumpur. Places that takes 15 minutes during normal traffic, can take up to an hour to reach during rush hour jam. And KK-suburb rush hours tend to be very long, starting from 6am to 10am, and from 3.30pm to 9pm... even that is looking at things optimistically.

Even though I don't live within the KK area, I always eye for any alternative road that I can take to avoid the jam. Jalan Bantayan and KKIP Bypass are just a couple of roads that only slightly helped ease traffic. Around last year, though, someone told me of another, more shorter shortcut road that I can take to cut my travel time.

Jalan Bersatu and Jalan Bersatu 1. Google Maps https://goo.gl/maps/JcHTrUved5NKv5As5

Jalan Bersatu / Jalan Bersatu 1 street is a two-way road connecting the Damai and Kolombong areas. What normally takes about 3 kilometres and 5 to 15 minutes -- depending on traffic -- to reach from one end to another, now takes less than one kilometre and just ONE minute to reach, regardless of traffic.

The usual path from the same end by comparison, is slightly more than 3 kilometres, but takes at least 5 to 10 times longer to reach, due to heavy traffic and the main roads.

I heard that the shortcut has only been completed in 2018. Recently, I had the chance to use the shortcut, and it was heavenly :-)

This Google Street photo, taken in July 2018, shows that the Jalan Bersatu 1 road was still under construction or perhaps being repaired into a wider street.

If you're heading from Kolombong towards Damai, you'll have to do a U-turn at Citymall to reach the road, but it's still much more convenient especially if you want to head to Tshung Tsin or Karamunsing via Damai.

You're welcome.

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