S’wak commi ed to improving linkages between major towns, cities
KUCHING: The Sarawak government is committed to improving infrastructure to ensure connectivity between the major towns and cities in Sarawak, says Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing.
He said Infrastructure development would propel and generate opportunities for economic growth, said Masing, who is also Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation.
Two colossal infrastructure projects - Coastal Road Network and Second Trunk Road - undertaken by the Sarawak government under the purview of his ministry, would boost socio-economic activities and raise the people’s standard of living, he said in a press statement received here yesterday.
The Coastal Road Network project, which spans a distance of 896km, would seamlessly connect towns such as Kota Samarahan, Asajaya, Sadong Jaya, Sebuyau, Kabong, Tanjung Manis, Daro, Matu, Igan, Oya, Mukah, Balingian, Bintulu and Miri to the Pan Borneo Highway. The Second Trunk Road, meanwhile, would link Kuching and Sibu with the Pan Borneo Highway through Sebuyau-Sri AmanBetong road, he said.
When completed, the Second Trunk Road of 235km would shorten the driving time from Kuching to Sibu from the usual five hours to 2½ hours, he said, adding the project would be completed within the next five years.
These projects would be implemented on open tender basis, and an allocation of RM11 billion was already available to proceed with the projects.
This open-tender projects would enable the Sarawak government to get the most qualified contractor technically and commercially, and hence to enable the government to save a total of RM600 million.
The Coastal Road projects are currently under the tendering process while the Second Trunk Road projects are at the design stage, and would be tendered by yearend or beginning of next year.
The Coastal Road Network will cross nine major rivers which requires the construction of bridges, namely, Batang Saribas (1,550m) to be completed in June 2023 at an estimated cost of RM496 million; Sungai Krian (690m) to be completed in February 2022 at an estimated cost of RM174 million; Batang Rejang (1,200m) including 17.5km Pasi/Tanjung Manis road to be completed in February 2023 at an estimated cost of RM450 million.
Others are Batang Paloh (1,700m) to be completed in February 2023 at an estimated cost of RM567 million; Muara Lassa (2,430m) to be completed in February 2023 at an estimated cost of RM665 million; Bintulu-Jepak (1,048m) to be completed in April 2023 at an estimated cost of RM572 million; and Batang Rambungan (560m) to be completed within four years from the date of issuance of Le er of Award at an estimated cost of RM142 million.
The Batang Igan bridge (1,800m) is expected to be completed within four years from the date of issuance of Letter of Award at an estimated cost of RM305.8 million; and Batang Lupar (5,100m) which is expected to be completed within four years from the date of issuance of Le er of Award, at an estimated cost of RM866 million.
Masing said the Batang Rambungan and Batang Igan bridges were originally federal-funded projects but have now been undertaken by the Sarawak government, while the Batang Lupar bridge, which was originally based on a 50:50 sharing with the federal government has also been fully undertaken over by the Sarawak government.