‘Pan Borneo Highway project remains on track’
KUCHING: The overall progress of the Pan Borneo Highway project is satisfactory, with the expected completion date of June 30, 2021 based on the ‘ Project Delivery Partner Agreement’.
Currently, only two stretches out of the total 11 packages – the Serian- Pantu Junction and Batang Skrang- Sungai Awik – are slightly behind schedule for now.
“The Serian- Pantu Junction (section) is behind schedule due to limited resources such as manpower and machinery, while the ( delay in) Batang SkrangSungai Awik package is due to minor delays in the bridge works,” said Assistant Minister of Coastal Road Datuk Julaihi Narawi in his reply to questions raised by Chiew Chiu Sing ( DAP-Tanjong Batu).
Julaihi said the 11 packages of the Pan Borneo Highway project excluded the ‘ Kick- Off Project’ (KOP)’ which was carried out from Nyabau to Bakun Junction.
The 32km stretch, he disclosed, was supposed to reach completion on Oct 29 this year, but the deadline had been revised to Aug 20 next year.
“The extension of the project is due to challenges such as the removal of obstructions and unfavourable weather conditions.”
Under the new extension period, Julaihi said the KOP is currently at a 44.37 per cent completion stage — 0.49 per cent ahead of its planned schedule. Julaihi also listed out all the 11 packages as at Sept 25, namely: Teluk Melano to Sematan, with a contractual completion date on Jan 6, 2019, is currently 37.62 per cent completed – ahead by 16.59 per cent from its planned schedule; Sematan to Sungai Moyan, with a contractual completion date on Oct 31, 2020, is currently 2.49 per cent completed – ahead by 0.55 per cent; Serian to Pantu Junction, with a contractual completion date on March 9, 2020, is currently 10.97 per cent completed – behind by 2.25 per cent; Pantu Junction to Batang Skrang, with a contractual completion date on Nov 30, 2020, is currently 9.52 per cent completed – ahead by 7.5 per cent; Batang Skrang to Sungai Awik, with a contractual completion date on Sept 30, 2020, is currently 5.44 per cent completed – behind by 0.5 per cent; Sungai Awik to Bintangor, with a contractual completion date on Aug 31, 2020, is currently 4.82 per cent completed – ahead by 3.03 per cent; Bintangor to Sungai Kua, with a contractual completion date on June 15, 2020, is currently 15.75 per cent completed – ahead by 5.85 per cent; Sungai Kua to Sungai Arip, with a contractual completion date on Oct 31, 2020, is currently 7.09 per cent completed – ahead by 5.55 per cent; Sungai Arip to Bintulu Junction, with a contractual completion date on Oct 31, 2020, is currently 4.15 per cent completed – ahead by 0.23 per cent; Bakun Junction to Sungai Tangap Junction, with a contractual completion date on Nov 30, 2020, is currently 8.36 per cent completed – ahead by 4.08 per cent, and; Sungai Tangap to Pujut Link Road, with a contractual completion date on Oct 31, 2020, is currently 7.32 per cent completed – ahead by 3.93 per cent. In reply to the supplementary questions posed by Chiew to improve current road conditions, as well as visibility of signage and speed limit, Julaihi said the ministry would take note of what was mentioned.