KUCHING: The upgrades to the Kuching-Samarahan Highway, which include five roundabouts, are now 85.2 per cent complete and are scheduled to be finished by January 2024.
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, Datuk Ir Aidel Lariwoo, said that as the project nears completion, SMART traffic lights will be installed at the roundabouts. Remarkably, the project is progressing faster than anticipated, being 44.92 per cent ahead of schedule after just 15 months.
He noted that, in the past, there was a lower traffic volume on the Kuching-Samarahan Highway compared to the present, with more vehicles traversing it now.
Aidel highlighted that the completion of the upgrades to the five roundabouts will help alleviate traffic congestion within Kuching.
He also thanked to the contractors for their dedication and hard work.
“It hasn’t been easy for them, especially given the heavy traffic. Nonetheless, the contractors have handled the work efficiently, and we made the right choice,” he said during a press conference at Stakan Service Centre before visiting the third roundabout along the Kuching-Samarahan Highway today.
Aidel further mentioned that, at present, two of the five roundabouts are fully completed, which includes the establishment of the ART lane in both directions of the highway.
“The entire project, including all five roundabouts and the ART lane, is scheduled to be completed before Hari Raya next year. This is why Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg conducted a trial run to evaluate the stability of the ART,” he added.
