By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Feb 19: The 1.23km Nyabau Section under the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway (SPBH) project will improve the time spent communiting and socioeconomic development of the people of Bintulu, says Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said there is no denying that the highway development will bring a multiplier effect to various programmes such as real estate development, industrialisation and urbanisation.
“For me, with a good highway network system, the project can attract foreign companies to invest in Sarawak and thus, create more employment opportunities especially in the Bintulu industrial areas,” he said when officiating the Nyabau Section held in Bintulu today.
The Nyabau Section was one of three sections in Works Package 10 from Mile 5 to Nyabau Flyover and Jalan Bakun Junction to Sg Tangap.
Construction work on the Nyabau Section began on March 1, 2017 and was fully completed on Jan 26, 2022 with a total cost of RM164 million.
The Nyabau Interchange is the longest flyover in the SPBH project and is open from the main route to Miri (starting from the Bintulu traffic light to Miri) and the main route to Sibu (from the Bintulu traffic light to Sibu).
Abang Johari said the Nyabau Section will elevate the standard of Bintulu to be on par with other developing countries and that the Jepak, Bintulu, Tanjung Kidurong and Bintulu Airport areas will be better connected especially with the completion of Kemena Bridge soon.
He further reminded that the project was the brainchild of the former Sarawak Chief Minister, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, adding that he will ensure that there will be no tolls implemented as wished by the deceased.
Among those present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom and Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datuk John Sikie Tayai. — DayakDaily
