Bintulu-Jepak bridge significant — Talib
BINTULU: The iconic BintuluJepak cable-stayed bridge will be a significant addition to the Bintulu landscape and infrastructure development in particular.
It will also add to the general development of bustling industrial metropolitan Bintulu, says Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip.
“As a local myself I definitely welcome the government’s decision to build this bridge. It is so significant in so many ways,” the Jepak assemblyman told The Borneo Post.
He said the existing infrastructure which was meant to cater for early bursts of development is overtaken by rapid and continued development, and is unable to handle the current needs.
“In terms of travelling time from the airport to central business district it is shortened by 6.4 kilometres and just importantly bypassing many of the heavily populated areas,” he said.
Talib believes that the bridge is quite significant to the development on the Jepak side of Bintulu town.
At the moment, he said, Kampung Jepak is linked to the town by way of a short road connected to the main trunk road.
“When the bridge is complete, scheduled in April 2023, the trip to town is definitely shortened. Apart from those living in Jepak specifically, people who live in south west of Jepak such as in Tatau and Mukah would also benefit from the bridge.
“At the same time, it has been announced that a new administrative centre will be built on Jepak side. The construction of this bridge will complement this development,” he said when asked about the significance of the bridge to the Bintulu people.
A large group of community leaders and people from many walks of life attended the briefing on the bridge on January 5.
Talib said they constitute a wide cross section of the Bintulu community and they all understood the benefits of the bridge and wanted the construction of the bridge to proceed smoothly.
“Of course there are small pockets of people who don’t see it in similar light. They see something negative in certain aspects and harp on it.
“A few ‘Mr Know Alls’ for instance opine that the clearance of 26 metres is insufficient for big ships to go under the bridge,” he said.
Talib said these people should really think before they express such opinions, as big ships would not be able to enter Bintulu river in the first place.
“They are anchored in the open sea. Fishing boats and smaller ships that enter the river can pass under the bridge, with ample clearance,” he explained.
He said if they care to watch the ships going in and out of the river, they would realise the situation clearly with respect to the clearance issue.
“My hope is simple. Let development continue in Bintulu. People in Bintulu benefit,” said Talib.
During the earth-breaking ceremony for the RM467-million bridge project in July last year, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said upon completion, the bridge would have a holistic impact on the socio-economy and integration of the rural areas.
He said the bridge project had been withdrawn by the federal government along with other bridge projects in Sarawak, but the Sarawak government decided to proceed with it, in view of Bintulu having contributed greatly to Sarawak’s economy.
Abang Johari regarded the project as Sarawak Independence Day’s gift to Bintulu town.
The construction of the 1,283-metre long bridge project crossing Kuala Kemena with a four-lane double carriageway is being undertaken by PPES Works (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd (PPES Works) in a joint venture with China Communications Construction Company (M) Sdn Bhd (CCCC).
PPES Works is a 51 per centowned subsidiary company of Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad with the remaining 49 per cent equity interest held by Sarawak Economic Development Corporation.