SARIKEI: Sarawak is having a bountiful “harvest” of bridge projects this year as Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas announced by the end of this year, another eight bridge projects were expected to be completed statewide and open for public use.
“We had opened four, including the recent iconic Bintulu-Jepak bridge in Bintulu.
“The others are the Muara Lassa, Marudi and now this Batang Rajang bridges,” he said.
Uggah said this when met by reporters after performing the soft opening for the 1.4-kilometre long Batang Rajang bridge near here today.
The project cost a total of RM321 million, including the 17 kilometres long Pasi/Tanjung Manis/Sibu Road.
The bridge and the road will reduce travelling time from Tanjung Manis to Sibu by one hour compared to two and a half using the old road.
He also dispelled some rumours that those bridges yet to be officially declared open would be closed soon.
“They will remain open for the people to use,” he said
On the eight bridges expected to be ready, Uggah said they are the Batang Lupar 1 (the nation’s longest bridge over a river), the Batang Saribas 1, Batang Limbang, Batang Lingga, Batang Igan, Batang Sebauh, the Sungai Paku bridge in Spaoh, and the Sejingkat bridge in Kuching.
He quipped that Sarawak was creating an entry in the Guinness World Book of Records for delivering 12 bridges for public use within 2025.
“Next year we will have another four bridges to be ‘harvested’.
“They are Batang Paloh, Batang Krian, Batang Lupar 2 and Batang Saribas 2.
“Altogether we have a total of 16 bridges done or in the process of active construction.
“These are all paid for by Sarawak’s own fund.
“We must thank and congratulate our Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg for all these accomplishments.” he said.
