By Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 18: The Covid-19 pandemic and issues with relocating utilities have delayed the upgrading of the Sungai Bintangor Bridge at Jalan Datuk Ajibah Abol by 72 days, extending the project’s timeline by 819 days or 2.4 years since its start in December 2019.
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Development Datuk Ir Aidel Lariwoo noted that the project, which began during the pandemic, is currently 6.82 per cent or 72 days behind schedule.
As of June 25, 2024, the physical progress stands at 63.04 per cent, compared to the scheduled 69.86 per cent.
“The project faced several issues, with one of the major problems involving the relocation of utility infrastructure. However, these issues have been resolved and we hope the contractor will be able to resume works smoothly.
“It was initially scheduled for completion in April 2024, but the completion date has been revised to April 2025,” he told a press conference after attending a briefing on the updates of several projects in Kuching Division at the Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak Kuching Division Office in Jalan Batu Lintang here today.
With an initial contract sum of RM50.6 million, Aidel highlighted that the delay however did not result in a ballooning of the cost but instead saw a reduction to RM47.45 million after taking into consideration provisional sum from pilling works.
He added that the contractor is committed to deliver the project in a timely manner.
Aidel along with Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman and JKR Sarawak team also visited the project site after the press conference.
The project for the iconic bridge, with the tower in the centre made out of three massive columns, along with the Sungai Bintangor waterfront, will become a new landmark in Kuching.
The bridge features a four-lane dual carriageway spanning 108.50 metres over Sungai Bintangor.
Works also include improving and widening the existing two-lane single carriageway Jalan Datuk Ajibah Abol from the Divisional Mosque to the Jalan Hj Mataim junction. — DayakDaily
