By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 12: The Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) is set to reconstruct and replace the reinforced concrete (RC) culvert structure along Jalan Riam Lama in Miri to address erosion issues and inadequate drainage capacity.
In a TVS report, Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the existing 1.5-metre culvert is no longer capable of accommodating water flow, due to the rapid development in the surrounding area, which has increased stormwater runoff.
“Here, we can see erosion problems and issues at the outlet, which have also affected the condition of the road. The original proposal was to retain the old 1.5-metre design, but it is no longer suitable,” he told reporters during a site visit on Thursday (June 11).
He said that the new design will upgrade the structure into a larger-capacity double box culvert capable of handling both current and future water flow demands.
“The new design involves two box culvert channels measuring 3.3 metres each, giving a total width of 6.6 metres and a height of 2.1 metres,” he said.
He added that the upgrade is crucial to preventing recurring flooding and road damage, as the area also receives runoff from nearby residential areas and new developments.
Preliminary works are expected to begin as early as June 22, while full construction is projected to take approximately 90 days after the structural components have been fabricated.
“The fabrication of the culvert components will take about one and a half months, including transportation, while on-site construction is expected to be completed within about three months,” he said.
Lee noted that the project involves a high-traffic area linking several villages, schools and the main route to Miri Hospital.
“This is a busy route serving two villages, a secondary school, a primary school, and access to Miri Hospital. Therefore, the structure must be built as a permanent and larger facility to meet future needs.
“During the construction period, parts of the road may be closed, and road users are advised to use alternative routes, which will be announced later,” he said. — DayakDaily
