By Ling Hui
KUCHING, April 26: The cable-stayed Bintulu-Jepak Bridge, that is expected to be completed by 2025, will be a landmark that is akin to bridges in San Francisco.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this, adding that the Sarawak government took over the RM400 million project after it was rejected by the Federal government.
“Jepak seems far. It takes 20 to 30 minutes to reach Jepak although Jepak is actually near to Bintulu town. That’s why we integrated these two areas with this bridge.
“The cost is about RM400 million. It was not approved by the Federal government. So, let the Sarawak governmen take over the project.
“When I became Chief Minister then, I was finding ways to get the funds for us to build this bridge. It is a cable-stayed bridge, like in San Francisco,” he said.
The Premier was referring to several bridges in San Francisco, in the United States, such as the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the famous Golden Gate Bridge.
The Bintulu-Jepak Bridge which spans the Kuala Kemena River is said to be able to shorten the travel distance between Bintulu town and airport by 6.4km.
Once the bridge is done, Abang Johari said, Jepak would be easily accessible from Bintulu town and thereafter, development would expand towards Kidurong and Samalaju.
“When we have strong unity, we can implement government policies to develop Sarawak, including Jepak.
“We do it well so that we can have smart cities in the region,” he said when attending the Ramah Tamah Mesra gathering at Kampung Warisan Jepak last night (April 25).
Also present at the event were Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Abdullah Fatimah, and Jepak assemblyman Datuk Talib Zulpilip. — DayakDaily
