By DayakDaily Team
MUKAH, Oct 30: Motorists can now cross Batang Paloh directly between Mukah and Tanjung Manis following the opening of the RM298.98 million Batang Paloh Bridge today, bringing ferry services in the area to an end.
According to the Sarawak Public Works Department’s (JKR) Facebook post, caretaker Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, also caretaker Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development, officiated the bridge’s soft opening ceremony, with a symbolic traffic release marking its opening to road users.
The opening replaces the ferry service that long served as a vital transport link for residents and motorists crossing Batang Paloh, providing a more direct, convenient land route.
Measuring 1.7 kilometres, the two-lane concrete balanced cantilever bridge comprises 10 river spans and six approach spans, with a 120-metre-wide, 20-metre-high navigation clearance.
The project also includes 1.71 kilometres of access roads on the Pulau Bruit side and 2.932 kilometres on the Tanjung Manis side.
The bridge is expected to strengthen connectivity between Mukah and Tanjung Manis while supporting economic opportunities in the commercial, agricultural, tourism, and other sectors along Sarawak’s coastal development corridor. — DayakDaily
