By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, Aug 7: The Permyjaya-Kuala Baram bypass road has undergone RM8 million in resurfacing and maintenance works to restore a 2.4km stretch affected by peat soil movement, improving safety and driving comfort for road users.
In a news report by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the project, carried out by the Public Works Department (JKR), involved road surface milling, pavement recycling using the Cold In-Place Recycling (CIPR) method, and resurfacing works.
“This project is important to ensure the road condition is safer and more comfortable for users, especially as the route was built on peat soil, which is prone to settlement,” he said during an inspection of the project site here today.
Lee said the 12km Jalan Permyjaya had frequently experienced uneven and undulating surfaces due to ground movement, affecting the safety and comfort of motorists.
He also hoped the federal government would provide continuous maintenance allocations as the road is a federal route and requires regular upkeep due to the challenging peat soil conditions.
Meanwhile, Lee urged the Ministry of Works to expedite the construction of traffic lights at the Taman Milea Eastwood junction, which was approved about three years ago.
He said the traffic lights were increasingly necessary due to rising traffic volume and the distance between the existing traffic-light junction and the U-turn area.
In another matter, Lee highlighted congestion issues at the Sungai Tujoh Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) Complex, particularly due to a shortage of immigration and customs personnel.
He said the Sarawak government had allocated RM4 million to upgrade the ICQS facilities, including adding more lanes and inspection counters. However, he stressed that a sufficient workforce must support improved facilities to ensure all counters could operate effectively.
Lee also hoped the federal government would speed up the deployment of additional officers to reduce congestion at the Miri-Brunei border crossing.
He added that continued coordination between Sarawak and the federal government was needed to ensure road infrastructure and border facilities could better support smoother movement and enhance public safety. — DayakDaily
