KUCHING: Batu Kawa Road here will be upgraded in three phases with the federal government’s funding of about RM6.4 million.

Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said the road project included the upgrading of 1.42km of Batu Kawa Road from Malihah Matang junction to Batu Kawa Bridge costing about RM1.5 million.

“It also includes the installation of a 2.4km concrete divider barrier and 540 metres of steel barriers along Batu Kawa Road from Stephen Yong junction to Batu Kawa Bridge amounting to RM2.4 million,” he said.

Dr Sim said this in his Facebook page after visiting the project site at Batu Kawa on Saturday (March 13).

The Batu Kawa assemblyman said apart from the two packages, the federal government had allocated RM2.5 million to upgrade the federal road from Batu Kawa Bridge to Paragon Concrete end of last year.

Dr Sim thanked Senior Minister of Works, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusuf and federal Public Works Department (JKR) for the allocations provided.

“We will fight for more federal funding for three additional packages of Batu Kawa Road,” he said.

Dr Sim added that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg in January this year had announced the approval of a new 9.5km dual carriageway from Stephen Yong Road to FRC, Matang with a budget of RM250 million. The project was now in the design stage now before tendering.

Also present during his visit were state PWD assistant director (Road Maintenance) Awang Fadillah and Kuching Division PWD assistant Bong Yan Phing.