By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 3: Deputy Premier of Sarawak Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has announced that the Batang Lupar Bridge 1 in Sebuyau is set to be completed by December 2025 and be accessible to the public by Jan 2026.
According to a press release issued today, Uggah, who is also Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development, highlighted that the rescue contractor is projected to finish the new 5.7-kilometre two-lane single-carriageway approach road worth RM107.5 million connecting the bridge by Nov 2025.
“We have agreed to work on a timeline for the RM107.5-million road to be completed hopefully by November 2025. This is because we are looking at the plan for the bridge to be ready a month later (December 2025).
“Then by January 2026, we can open the bridge for public use,” he was quoted as saying.
Uggah paid a visit to the project site today, which was one of three sick projects he visited.
He further emphasised that the Batang Lupar Bridge 1 approach road is a crucial element of the project.
“What we do not want to see is that the bridge is completed but not the road. So we had a good discussion with its new contractor.
“There were some issues, but apparently, they have been resolved now for the JKR (Public Works Department) and the contractor to work out the critical path analysis to ensure it can be completed,” he added.
Meanwhile, on another sick project, the 6.3-kilometre single-carriageway connecting Jalan Kampung Tanjung Bako and the Kuching/Samarahan Expressway on the Sarawak Coastal Road in Samarahan, the minister stated that the RM106.9-million carriageway road project was handed over to a new contractor on Aug 8, 2023.
“It is 5.20 per cent completed, ahead of the current schedule of 4.55 per cent,” he revealed, stating that the project is anticipated to be finished by early Feb 2026.
The third sick project he visited was the upgrading of the 14.9-kilometre Jalan Padawan (Phase 1) in Serian Division.
Uggah, who is also Bukit Saban assemblyman, stated that the new contractor had just taken over the project on Feb 16, 2024.
“We hope for it to be completed by August 15, 2026,” he added.
After inspecting the Padawan Road project, he disclosed that the rescue contractors are still working on the remaining construction or upgrading tasks for the three projects.
“The previous contractors had their contracts terminated due to their failure to deliver as scheduled. I am pleased to note the new contractors are doing their job as scheduled. I hope they will continue with their momentum.
“We cannot afford to have projects being delayed. When projects are approved and implemented, the people expect them to be completed on time. The government, too, shares the same expectation.”
However, he added that the contractors may encounter implementation issues that require their replacement.
“So with the appointment of the new contractors to rescue these projects, it is our hope that they (projects) can be completed. We will continue to closely monitor all projects statewide which have been awarded to rescue contractors,” Uggah remarked.
Among those present were the permanent secretary to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development, Datu Chiew Chee Yaw, and State JKR deputy director, Cassidy Morris. — DayakDaily
