Miri JKR: Road repair works to be completed by CNY, expect smoother drive

The Public Works Department (JKR) has assured the public that they can look forward to a smoother ride this coming festive season, upon the completion of the road upgrading project along the Miri and Niah road junction.

According to JKR Miri engineer Stephen Ung, the contractor is currently undertaking the road furniture works for this stretch, whereby traffic flow is expected to be slower here compared to the completed dual carriageway.

“Before Chinese New Year, we will open four lanes for road users’ convenience,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

The road works on the Sibu and Niah junction has been completed, except for the stretch between Tatau and Sungai Arip in Bintulu where one side of the dual-carriageway is still closed to the public, he added.

With Chinese New Year just around the corner, traffic volume on the Pan Borneo Highway is expected to spike as it also coincides with the onset of the school term holidays.

Road users in most divisions had shared their experience of having a smooth journey on the Pan Borneo Highway during the Christmas period last year, except for some sections of the highway in Miri Division.

Based on the report by the Northern Zone Office of the PanBorneo Highway Unit, Ung said the road construction works for Miri Division is expected to be completed by April this year.

“Sarawak JKR has opened the Suai interchange of the Pan Borneo Highway to road users starting 10am today (Jan 17).

“For the road stretch along SK Kelapa Sawit 1 Subis, the contractor has been informed of the public’s complaint on the potholes and is now carrying out road resurfacing works – expected to be completed by this Jan 26,” he said.

Meanwhile, on a recent Facebook posting of an accident along the coastal road between Niah and Samalaju in Bintulu, Ung said the Miri JKR road maintenance unit had identified the pothole location and would address the issue without delay.

A netizen had earlier uploaded the scene of a motorcycle accident involving his friend at a location near Sungai Telong, which he claimed to have been caused by potholes at the stretch of road along the area.

On this matter, Ung assured that the defects along the said road had been inspected and scope of repair works had also been identified.

“The contractor will start their repair work this Friday (Jan 19),” he said.