After completion of Batang Sadong Bridge, construction work on Batang Lupar Bridge to start in 2018

By Simon Peter

SIMUNJAN, Dec 18, 2016  Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, at the opening of the 1.48km Batang Sadong Bridge today, said the government is committed to fulfilling its promises to the people of Sarawak.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak listening to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri while Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari (left) and Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof look on.

He said the completion of the bridge and the on-going construction of the 1,100km long Pan Borneo Highway are proofs of the commitments.

The RM231 million bridge was completed in October this year, two weeks earlier than planned while its cost was RM12 million lesser than announced initially.

Najib said he had spontaneously approved the building of the bridge during his walkabout in the area in 2011 after hearing of the grouses of the local communities and considering the importance of creating a network of roads for residents living along the coastal areas that were bypassed by the Pan Borneo Highway.

The prime minister said another bridge, costing RM1 billion, was planned to be built across Batang Lupar, with the construction expected to start in 2018.

The 5km Batang Lupar Bridge to be built on a 50-50 share between the state and federal governments, would be the longest bridge in Sarawak, with the current status being held by Batang Sadong Bridge.

The other bridges being planned or already approved to complete the coastal route alignment for comfortable travel included the Batang Samarahan bridge (estimated to cost RM112 million), Batang Igan (RM300 million) and Batang Rambungan (RM130 million).

He said these three major bridge projects will connect Sarawak's coastal highway from Kuching to the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) in central Sarawak.

"It is the government's vision within the next few years to complete two main road networks in Sarawak, which is the Pan Borneo Highway and coastal highway.

"We are committed to building these bridges. Once the coastal highway and Pan Borneo are completed, it will change the economic landscape of Sarawak," he said, adding that the government will look to build bridges at Batang Saribas, Muara Lassa and Batang Paloh in the future to complete the coastal road network.

"The total costs of the projects are to be shared by the state and Federal Government," he said, explaining that he is very much aware that Sarawak needs many bridges due to its many big rivers criss-crossing its vast land mass.

"We will continue to build more bridges, to replace river crossings which still depend on ferry services," he said, adding that the federal government is able to provide development funds for Sarawak due to the strong federal-state ties.

Among those present at the opening of Batang Sadong Bridge were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

The 1.48km  long Batang Sadong Bridge, built at a cost of RM231 million and completed last October.