By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Oct 26: The Selangau and Pantu sections of the Pan Borneo Highway will be open for public use by November this year, says caretaker Senior Minister of Works Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof.
He also said that the overall implementation of Phase 1 of the billion-ringgit project is currently at 88 per cent completion.
Out of the total length of 786km dual carriageways stretching from Telok Melano to Miri, he said 215km has two lanes in each direction completed.
As for other facilities, he noted the completion of 180 out of 202 P turns, 17 out of 25 interchanges or flyovers, 69 out of 115 bridges, 200 out of 645 bus stations, and 1,945 out of 2,049 culverts.
Additionally, one out of three rest and service areas, 17 out of 41 overhead pedestrian bridges, and two out of five laybys are currently under construction.
During a press conference at a local hotel here today, Fadillah also said that the second phase of the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) is ahead of schedule and is currently at six per cent completion.
When asked about the Red Line projects, he said the proposal has been submitted to the Federal government but there has been no updates from the Economic Planning Unit (EPU).
“Whatever it is, we will continue to follow up on the proposals. If the project is not implemented, we will have two road standards later on with the completion of Pan Borneo Highway,” he said.
Red Line projects refer to upgrading of roads connected to the Pan Borneo Highway to be according to JKR (Public Works Department) standard. This covers about a total of 200km of roads in Kuching-Serian, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Majang Renggi was among those also present at the press conference. — DayakDaily
