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RM215 mln Kuala Tatau bridge almost complete

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PHOTO shows the almost completed Kuala Tatau bridge as seen from D’Muara seafood stalls by the riverbank.
PHOTO shows the almost completed Kuala Tatau bridge as seen from D’Muara seafood stalls by the riverbank.

BINTULU: Excitement among the local folks over the Kuala Tatau bridge project, some 48km from here,  is growing bigger by the day as the deadline for its completion draws nearer.

The RM215 million infrastructure project involving 11 km of road between Kuala Serupai and Kuala Tatau as well as the Kuala Tataubridge is on track for completion by October this year.

Its construction commenced in early 2014, under a three-year contract is a joint-venture between Pekerjaan Piasau Konkerit SdnBhd and China Yunnan Road and Bridges Engineering (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.

Besides the 724-metre bridge spanning over the Tatau River, the project includes two smaller bridges at Sungai Serupai and Sungai Segirut.

With the completion of the bridge, Kuala Tatau will be linked to Balingian and Mukah division.

The project is part of the 928km coastal road from Kuching to Miri which is expected to complete in the next five years as disclosed by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing recent visit earlier this year.

Masing who is also the Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation led his two-day convoy from his Ministry by bus, just to ‘feel’ the condition of the road and to identify the projects still needing to be done.

According to village chief of Kpg Seberang, KK Haji Rahim Hj.Shahdan, 52, the bridge is now physically connected to both sides of the road.

“Works have been going on steadily at the site and now it is just a matter of time for it to be fully completed and we really hope it could be used by yearend,” he told New Sarawak Tribube/Utusan Sarawak and reporters recently when they visited the site.

Suli, 48, who operates a seafood outlet near the bridge said upon completion, more customers from Bintulu, Balingian and Mukah would be able to drive their cars right to their villages and stopby to patronise D’Muara, the only seafood joint operating at Kpg Seberang, at the moment.

For businessman, Ah Tee,55, who runs a grocery shops across river at Kpg Hj.Ismail faces problem now when bringing goods, he has to depend on high water level to ferry the goods.

He said the bridge would greatly ease their hardship in business and also bringing the sick during emergency to hospital at night to Bintulu.

Presently there is a motorised boat ferrying people across to Kpg Seberang, charging at RM2 per trip per person and operates only day time. Odd job worker, Husin, 48, who is from Baram, and has been married to a local there for 16 years revealed that there are three other villages surrounding the Kuala Tatau area namely Kpg Hj.Ismail, Kpg Hilir and a newer village called Kpg SeberangJaya.

The most populated areas in Kuala Tatau are Kpg. Haji Ismail and KpgHilir, with most of their residents comprising fishermen and farmers.

“I believe those living in the surrounding areas will feel the spin-off effects of the bridge project,” he added.

The road development project upon completion will be a vital communication link for the people and it will also provide an opportunity for them to develop their land for agricultural and commercial purposes, commented Jepak Assemblyman and Minister in Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) DatukTalib Zulphilip who was also in Masing’s entourage during the recent visit to Kpg Seberang.

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