By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, Aug 29: Jalan Ilmu in Desa Senadin is getting a half-metre lift under a RM1.481 million upgrade after major flooding earlier this year exposed its low-lying sections and heightened the risk of future inundation.
According to a report by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the project aimed to repair flood damage while reducing the risk of the road being inundated again.
“Jalan Ilmu was among the areas seriously affected by the floods because there are sections of the road that are low-lying.
“Through this project, the road level will be raised by about half a metre to reduce the risk of the road being inundated in the future,” he said when inspecting the project site here yesterday (Aug 28).
The four-month project from Aug 11 to Dec 10 includes road repairs and upgrades, including 510 metres of road base, 1,245 metres of premix, concrete kerbs, road shoulders, and new road markings.
Lee said flood recovery efforts would also extend to several other roads in Desa Senadin, Permyjaya and Tudan that were damaged by the floods.
He said a special additional allocation of about RM10 million had been secured for resurfacing and road restoration works in the affected areas.
Of the total, RM5.78 million is allocated to resurface seven roads in Desa Senadin, RM3.07 million to eight roads in Permyjaya, and RM1.15 million to five roads in Tudan.
Lee, who is also Senadin assemblyman, stressed that the RM10 million allocation was specifically requested following the flood-related damage and did not come from the Miri City Council’s (MBM) regular maintenance funds.
He said the council needed to prepare the design and go through the tender process before the works could begin.
“For the RM10 million allocation, the tender process is expected to be called in the first or second week of September, with resurfacing works expected to begin in October,” he said.
Lee hoped all resurfacing and road restoration works could be completed before the end of the year to ensure residents have better and safer road facilities.
He said the Sarawak government would continue to prioritise basic infrastructure, particularly roads, to improve safety and convenience for road users while reducing the impact of floods on local communities. — DayakDaily
