KUCHING: The Second Trunk Road (STR) project will contribute towards the state’s development process as well as providing economic returns.
In stressing this, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the project, when completed will shorten travelling time between Kuching and Sibu to about three hours.
“This will open up Sarawak’s vast interiors, providing opportunities in terms of economic activities,” he said when met in Sebuyau after visiting three road packages of the STR on Thursday (March 14).
Uggah was together with the permanent secretary to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) Datuk Chiew Chee Yau and officers from the state Public Works Department (PWD).
The packages involved are the Batang Samarahan to Batang Sadong stretch, the Batang Samarahan bridge project and the Batang Sadong to Sebuyau/Batang Lupar Bridge stretch.
Uggah who is the Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development said the Batang Samarahan to Batang Sadong road is a four-lane double carriageway road and is 13.7 kilometers in length.
He said the road and the bridge projects would cost a total of RM530 million and is expected to be ready by February 2027.
On the Batang Sadong to Sebuyau/Batang Lupar Bridge package, he said it is 28 kilometers in length with two lane single carriageway road costing RM525 million.
“Here, we will have a 800 meter road via duct crossing to the Sedilu National Park. We expect this package to be ready by April 2028. We have identified some issues they do not pose major problems.
“These are being resolved to allow the construction works to proceed smoothly and for all these projects to be completed as scheduled,” he said.
On the visits, Uggah said the purpose was to ensure contractors comply to PWD’s “one month pledge/undertaking” where the successful contractors must be on the site and had done some construction activities within one month of being awarded the contracts.
“If they fail to do so, the PWD reserves the right to terminate them. But in the three projects, we see that they are serious contractors. They are already at their respective sites, although one of them is still facing land issues,” he said.
Uggah reiterated that both the MIPD and the PWD will take a strict approach to see that whatever infrastructural projects implemented are completed and delivered as scheduled.
“When projects are announced, the people will expect them to be implemented following the schedules. Our Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg will also expect the same.
“So, our responsibilities at MIPD and PWD are to ensure this. We will go to the ground to monitor the progress and to both know and to resolve if there are issues cropping up.
“We will engage other state departments and agencies when we go to the ground.” he said.
