Upgrading works on Jln Ulu Sg Merah kick off today, completion expected in 24 months
SIBU: The upgrading works on Jalan Ulu Sungai Merah costing RM25,580,000 will kick off today, and should reach completion within the next 24 months.
This was jointly announced by Deputy Minister I for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee and Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang at a press conference here yesterday.
They said upon completion, the project should ease the traffic congestion in Ulu Sungai Merah area.
“It involves the upgrading of approximately 2.14km single carriageway to dual carriageway, stretching from Jalan Ling Kai Cheng traffic junction to Lorong Ulu Sungai Merah 48.
“Once completed, it would serve some 3,000 households in Ulu Sungai Merah, where there are two schools: SMK Sungai Merah and SJKC Nang Sang, and also a church.
“In the interest of safety of school-children, both of us have proposed to Sibu Land and Survey Department to consider having an overhead bridge rather than a zebra crossing with a traffic light under this project.
“This is because both of us are concerned that some school children may not know how to use the zebra crossing properly, posing danger to themselves if they’d just run across the road.
“For that reason, we feel it is much safer to have an overhead bridge,” they said in a joint statement.
Moreover, both elected representatives reminded the contractor to do their best in alleviating the inconvenience to road users, ‘as much as possible’.
“We would have regular meetings with the contractor, and the Land and Survey Department to keep the public updated on the development.
“We also hope that the public would bear with us throughout the upgrading works period.”
The upgrading cost did not include the shifting/relocating of utilities, estimated at RM8.5 million.
According to the slide shown during the meeting, the project contractor is Kendiri Emas Sdn Bhd, while DT Jurutera Perunding Sdn Bhd is the consultant.