by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 29: Sarawak is setting its sights on adopting China’s cutting-edge approach to highway construction, inspired by the Yakang Expressway in Sichuan; an engineering marvel known as the ‘Mount Everest of Highway Construction’.
A delegation from the Sarawak Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) and the Sarawak Department of Public Works (JKR), led by Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, recently conducted a technical study visit to the Yakang Expressway, facilitated by the Yakang Expressway Operation Company (Shudao Group).
According to a report by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas), the visit aimed to explore innovative and sustainable road and tunnel construction techniques that could be adapted for Sarawak’s mountainous and environmentally sensitive regions.
Spanning 135 kilometres between Ya’an City and Kangding in western Sichuan, the Yakang Expressway ascends nearly 2,000 metres through steep valleys, seismic zones, and areas prone to heavy rainfall. With bridges and tunnels comprising 82 per cent of its length, it is often described as the ‘Mount Everest of Highway Construction’ due to the extreme challenges overcome in geography, geology, climate, ecology, and engineering.
“The Yakang Expressway shows how modern engineering can coexist with nature. Roads and tunnels are built seamlessly into the mountains while preserving the ecological landscape. This aligns with our PCDS 2030 agenda and is a model we aim to adopt in Sarawak,” Uggah said.
During the visit, the delegation toured the Tianquan Service Area (R&R), home to the Expressway Museum where Shudao staff briefed the delegation on operational management, maintenance practices, and real-time monitoring systems for traffic, weather, and tunnel safety.
The delegation also visited several landmark structures, including the Erlangshan Tunnel, one of China’s longest highway tunnels at 13.4 kilometres; the Labahe Tunnel Group, which showcases advanced tunnelling techniques that minimise environmental impact, and the Luding Da Du He Xing Kang Bridge, a 1,100-metre suspension bridge that connects previously isolated regions and enhances transport safety and connectivity.
“We can learn from China’s approach to balancing development with ecological protection. Sarawak’s future infrastructure projects, including highways, tunnels, and bridges should reflect these same principles.
“Our vision under PCDS 2030 is to enhance accessibility across Sarawak. From coastal regions to the interior, without compromising our environment. The Yakang Expressway demonstrates that it is possible to build efficiently and responsibly,” Uggah added.
Among the delegation were MIPD Deputy Ministers Datuk Ir Aidel Lariwoo and Datuk Majang Renggi, MIPD Permanent Secretary Datu Chiew Chee Yaw, director of Sarawak JKR Datu Ir Dr. Cassidy Morris, and senior officers from MIPD and JKR. – DayakDaily
