BINTULU: The Bintulu-Jepak Bridge, dubbed the ‘Golden Gate Bridge’ of Bintulu, is set to officially open to the public at around 10 am on March 23.
Its opening comes at an ideal time, just about a week before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
It is understood that Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas is scheduled to officiate the opening ceremony.
The bridge was constructed at a cost of RM460 million, featuring a maximum height of 90 metres (m), a clearance of 26m, and spanning 268m across the Kemena River.
It is said to be the first cable-stayed bridge built along the Coastal Road network and the first four-lane cable-stayed bridge with two towers in East Malaysia.
Its construction involved the use of 88,342 cubic meters of concrete and 20,160 tonnes of steel.
Fundamentally, the bridge’s completion will transform travel between Bintulu and Jepak, strengthening community connections and boosting economic growth in the area.
At the same time, it will shorten the journey from Bintulu Airport to the city centre from 22 kilometres (km) to just 6.4km.