Miri-Marudi road project to roll out soon
MIRI: The proposed new MiriMarudi link road is likely to take off in the second half of this year, says Assistant Minister of Local Government and Marudi assemblyman Datu Dr Penguang Manggil.
He, however, did not give a specific time frame as to when the northern road connection , including the link road, is ready to be rolled out.
“The new Miri-Marudi road, the road to Nanga Melinau, and Long Panai-Long Lama road projects will start soon,” he said when asked on the progress of the road project amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
The link road will drastically slash the distance between Miri and Marudi when completed, compared to the distance of 70km now.
Starting from Eastwood Valley in Miri and ending at the existing stretch after Sungai Arang bridge, this R5 standard road will shorten the journey (from Miri) to Marudi by almost 20km, bypassing the 33km narrow and winding road through oil palm plantations up to the Sungai Arang bridge leading to Marudi.
Meanwhile, Penguang is happy that almost all of the rural transformation programme (RTP) projects in Marudi constituency last year had either been completed or are ongoing despite the challenges of Covid19 SOP. More would be rolled out this year .
Many ‘Projek Rakyat’ or special projects are also underway, including the upgrading of roads, extension of rural electrification scheme and water supply, building of Beluru sports stadium and the delayed Marudi Bridge project.
A better road network is also shaping up in Tinjar and Teru in response to the aspiration of the local community.
These include tar-sealing of roads from Lapok junction to Long Tisam (42 km) and spur roads, access road to Ulu Teru, upgrading of roads to Majang, Ajoi, Lubok Mulong and upper Baram, which have been approved for implementation either later this year or next year
The assistant minister welcomed the delay of the state election, saying it provided him more time and space to refute all frivolous allegations against him of lying and fishing for votes.
He said all RES projects, water projects, infrastructure projects, ICT connectivity, schools, surveying of NCR land had been well planned, documented and presented to the chief minister and the state government for approval.
Pengaung said the cooperation of all quarters was needed to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic which has also struck Marudi.
He said the authorities had extended the lockdown in Long Jegan and that all persons under investigation (PUI) related to the SK Long Jegan cluster were now quarantined in Miri.
The new Miri-Marudi road, the road to Nanga Melinau, and Long Panai-Long Lama road projects will start soon.
— Datu Dr Penguang Manggil