KUALA LUMPUR: Various mitigation plans are being implemented to ensure the smooth continuity of work on the Pan Borneo Highway project.
This, according to Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, includes the realignment of the construction schedule and Extension of Time (EOT).
“Just like other government projects, the performance of the construction progress of the project is also affected by the lack of workers, building materials following the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact of the global economy at present,” he explained.
He was replying to a question from Tanjong Manis MP Yusof Abdul Wahab at the Parliament sitting on Wednesday.
Fadillah said for work packages and sections that have been completed and are still in the Defect Liability Period (DLP), the maintenance of the highway will be carried out by the respective contractors under the supervision of JKR Sarawak.
Earlier, he said as of May 2022, the progress status of Phase 1 starting from Telok Melano to Miri along 786 km is 84 per cent complete.
“Therefore, it is expected to be fully completed in the first quarter of 2023,” he added.
He said several packages and sections have been opened for road users in stages as early as 2019 namely the Telok Melano to Sematan package which was fully completed on January 6, 2019, Julau Section of Work Package 07, Persimpangan Bintangor to Persimpangan Julau that was completed on October 28, 2021, Serian Section for Work Package 03, Serian Roundabout to Balai Ringin completed on December 4, 2021 and the Nyabau section of Work Package 10, Simpang Nyabau to Sungai Tangap completed on January 26, 2022.
“The Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway Project is an initiative of the federal government to gradually improve the road infrastructure network in Sarawak,” he said.
Fadillah also told the House that the federal government is currently studying the maintenance model of the Pan Borneo Highway.
He said the study will take into account the scope, cost and Level Of Service (LOS) of the appropriate maintenance.
“The study process is expected to be finalised before the DLP period ends in 2025,” he said.
