By Amyra Varkisa & Natasha Jee

SIBU: Travelling distance between Sibu airport and the town centre will be greatly shortened once a new dual carriageway is completed.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said that the dual carriageway will be an alternative road that will include an extension to Sibu Jaya boulevard (road) and connected to Khong Yit Khim road.

“People who are coming from Sibu Airport road won’t have to circle a long route as they can use the Sibu Jaya road and go straight to Khong Yit Khim road.

“This road is not ‘kong pun bo yong’ (meaningless talk). We will upgrade it to become a dual carriageway road up to Sibu town centre.

“This means Sibu has alternative roads and Sibu Jaya, a developing area,” he said when officiating at the launch of Azman Hashim Community Sports Centre and 6th Special Olympics of Sarawak State Games here on Friday evening.

Abang Johari pointed out that the new road is one of more developments that will be brought to Sibu Jaya.

“Sibu Jaya, when I was appointed as the housing minister at that time, my colleagues and I have made one plan for this area.

“With the boulevard and so on, the plan got an award due to the layout of Sibu Jaya and today Sibu Jaya has become a model in urban development. We will not stop at this point,” he assured.

For the record, Sibu Airport is located 22 kilometres from Sibu Town which would take around half an hour by car.