By Ling Hui
BINTULU, Nov 3: Tatau will only be 30 minutes away and become the suburb of Bintulu with the completion of the new road through the Bintulu-Jepak Bridge leading to Bintulu Airport.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is also Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) chairman, said Tatau will be akin to Samarahan in Kuching.
“Tatau will be a suburb of Bintulu, which is only 30 minutes away. Like my house (at Petra Jaya) to the other side in Kuching, also 30 minutes,” he said.
He said this is only a part of the Jepak Jaya master plan to link Bintulu proper and the new township, including the construction of the Jepak Integrated Administrative Centre.
Once all the infrastructure is in place, he said Jepak Jaya will become a new commercial centre equipped with all the basic facilities, including housing.
Abang Johari said he foresees a decrease in housing costs once there is more housing development in Bintulu.
“According to my calculation, throughout 15 to 20 years, the housing cost will decrease because it’s basically supply and demand.
“If we have a supply of houses here, the prices will come down. As you know, we have identified over 7,000 lots for us to build affordable houses,” he told the press during his visit to the Jepak Integrated Administrative Centre construction site earlier today.
The Bintulu-Jepak Bridge is one of the projects overseen by the Coastal Second Trunk Road Unit, with a contract value of over RM460 million and implemented by PPES Works-CCCC JV Sdn Bhd.
It was inaugurated on July 22, 2019, by Abang Johari and was scheduled to be completed after 48 months. However, construction was delayed due to restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The latest deadline is October 31, 2024.
The project’s scope involves the construction of a permanent cable span bridge of 494.2 metres across the Kemena River with a total estimated length of 788.84 metres, including roads and viaducts.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and BDA general manager Datu Muhamad Yakup Kari were also at the event. — DayakDaily
