SEBUYAU: A total of eight road project packages with an overall cost of RM3.21 billion are being actively carried out under the Sarawak Second Trunk Road (SSTR) and Coastal Second Trunk Road (CSTR) projects to complete the infrastructure network surrounding the Batang Lupar 1 Bridge.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said that in addition to the opening of the Batang Lupar 1 Bridge, the Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) is also actively carrying out a network of roads in the Samarahan, Betong and Sri Aman Divisions to improve connectivity in the respective areas.
He added that the road network surrounding the Batang Lupar 1 Bridge involves an overall cost of RM3.21 billion.
"Once this entire road network is completed, the travel distance from Kuching to Sibu will change in two ways — firstly, there will no longer be any ferry crossing, as that will be a thing of the past, and secondly, the distance will be shortened to just 252 kilometres, compared to 396 kilometres via the Pan Borneo Highway, a reduction of 144 kilometres," he said.
He said this when speaking at the Official Opening Ceremony of the Batang Lupar 1 Bridge, officiated by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, here, on Thursday.
Elaborating further on the projects, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said they comprise Package A1-A, from the Samarahan Bridge to Sadong Jaya, worth RM529.8 million and expected to be completed in December 2027; Package A1-B, involving the construction of an elevated highway to the Sadong Jaya Bridge, worth RM779.9 million and expected to be completed in September 2030; and Package A2, from Sadong Jaya to Sebuyau, worth RM542.8 million and expected to be completed by the end of 2030.
He said other projects being carried out include Package B1, from Sebuyau to the Lingga Bridge, worth RM494.6 million, and Packages P1 and P2, involving road upgrading works from the Lingga Bridge to Bakong and Entulang (Sri Aman), worth RM140.8 million.
He said other projects include Package B4, from the Batang Lupar 2 Bridge to the Pan Borneo Highway junction in Betong, worth RM292 million and expected to be completed in September 2026, as well as Package A5, from the Saribas 2 Bridge to the Pan Borneo Highway junction in Roban, worth RM431.8 million and expected to be completed in March 2027.
Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Speaker of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Minister for Utility and Telecommunication, who is also Sebuyau Assemblyman Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Ministers, Heads of Departments, and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews
Prepared by : Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Photos : Ameerul Shafiq Khir, Muhd Zulfadhli Ahmad Sharir & Natalie Cherinie Johnny
Translator : Uilson Ng
