Coastal highway to change Sarawak
Building of three major bridges will improve economic activities: Najib
SIMUNJAN, SARAWAK Three major bridge projects, at a combined cost of RM1.4 billion (S$450 million), will be built to connect Sarawak's coastal highway from Kuching to the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score).
Prime Minister Najib Razak said the government has approved the building of the Batang Lupar Bridge at a cost of RM 1 billion, with construction scheduled to begin in early 2018.
Spanning 5km across the Batang Lupar river, the bridge is set to become the longest to cross a river in the country.
Two other projects, the RM300mil Batang Igan Bridge and RM130mil Batang Rambungan Bridge, are currently at the planning stage.
"It is the government's vision within the next few years to complete two main road networks in Sarawak, which is the Pan Borneo Highway and coastal highway. We are committed to build these bridges," said Mr Najib.
"Once the coastal highway and Pan Borneo are completed, it will change the economic landscape of Sarawak."
The 1.48km Batang Sadong bridge that was completed in October is currently the longest bridge to cross a river in the country.
Mr Najib said the bridge would improve economic activities in the agroculture, aquaculture and tourism sectors.
He added that another project, the RM112mil Batang Samarahan Bridge, is expected to be complete in early 2018.
Bridges at Batang Saribas, Muara Lassa and Batang Paloh will also be built to complete the coastal road network. - THE STAR ONLINE
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