RM240mil Old Bau Road upgrade to start in 2021

Julaihi (left) listens to a briefing by Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep on the pedestrian bridge project.

BAU, Nov 29: The upgrading of the 24km Old Bau Road from 7th Mile to Sibuluh, connecting with the Pan Borneo Highway, will start in the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP)

Assistant Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development, Datuk Julaihi Narawi, said the project at a ceiling cost of RM240 million is still under the design stage.

The upgrading of the road will give much convenience to motorists plying along the route, which at present, is faced with traffic congestion daily.

“A mega project, which is the upgrading of the 24km Old Bau Road at a cost of RM240 million, is on the way and works will start in the 12MP,” he told reporters after the earth breaking ceremony of the Tasik Biru Pedestrian Bridge project here today.

Julaihi also launched the Tasik Biru Festival 2019 to be held at the iconic lake.

He said it was the desire of the state government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to connect towns and bazaars in the state, as well as the more than 5,000 scattered settlements across Sarawak..

Giving connectivity to these areas will help open up more opportunities to the people to enhance their socioeconomic activities, he added.

Julaihi said that are many other projects being carried out in Bau at current, among them, the RM4 million Bau District Office, Tondong Bridge at a cost of RM10.8 million and the RM5 million Buso Bridge projects.

On the Tasik Biru Pedestrian Bridge, he said it is built at a cost of RM1 million.

He added that the 600 metres bridge, with 2.2 metres width and 4.5 metres high, will become an iconic project to boost tourism in the area, while enhancing socioeconomy of the local community.

He urged the people to continue supporting the GPS government, which he described as “understanding the needs of the people and having the welfare of the people at heart”. — DayakDaily