MORE than a dozen major bridges on Sarawak’s coastal road will be completed between 2023 and 2025, said Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg.

The chief minister today performed the earth-breaking ceremony for the last of the major bridges, and the longest spanning across a river in the country – the 4.8km Batang Lupar 1 bridge at Triso in the coastal town of Sebuyau.

The RM848.75 million Batang Lupar 1 bridge was one of three bridges on the coastal road that Putrajaya had agreed to bear half the cost of.

However, when the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government came into power after the 2018 general election, it cancelled the agreement citing the bridges – Batang Rambungan in Lundu and Batang Igan in Mukah being the other two – were not on a federal project list.

Abang Johari said the episode should be a lesson to all Sarawakians, now that the state election is looming closer, on promises made by the opposition before and after an election.

He pointed out that none of the promises made by PH before the 2018 election, which included a raise in oil royalty and a return of 50% of the taxes collected by the federal government in the state back to Sarawak, were fulfilled.

Perbena Emas Sdn Bhd, a Sibu-based engineering firm has been awarded the contract for the bridges.

The firm has teamed up with the Chinese firm MBEC-Jawala – the China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group Co.Ltd – to tap into its technical expertise.

The 48-month contract is projected to be completed on January 6, 2025.

The bridges are a key component on the 896km coastal road, and the state’s second trunk road, as they will not only shave travelling time between the major towns but also consign the ubiquitous ferry services at seven river crossings to the pages of history.

The second trunk road, for example, is expected to cut travelling time between Kuching and Sibu, and vice versa, by nearly 50% from 400km via the Pan Borneo highway to 215km.

It will also cut the drive time from Kuching to other major towns like Betong, Mukah, Bintulu and Miri.

Abang Johari said as the roads would open new economic opportunities and offer better transportation networks, particularly along the densely populated areas of the coast, it will contribute to Sarawak’s target of being a developed state by 2030.

The road, which costs RM11 billion, will also be toll free. – March 23, 2021.