ART roundabouts upgrading works set for completion in November

KOTA SAMARAHAN: The project to upgrade five roundabouts along the Kuching-Samarahan Highway and the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) for Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) vehicles is expected to be completed by November at the latest.
 
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said both projects are not facing any major disruptions or reasons for delay.
 
“We are highly optimistic that the road will be completed according to schedule because the site monitoring has been strong and several road surfaces have been completed.
 
“The roundabout project has reached 58 per cent completion and is expected to be fully completed by October, while the middle lane for ART, which is currently at three per cent completion, will attempt to be finished by November,” he said.
 
He made these remarks after conducting a visit to the roundabout route near the Sarawak Heart Centre in Kota Samarahan today (July 15).
 
Uggah, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, said he was satisfied with the progress made during the visit.
 
“We are very pleased and have confidence in the Public Works Department (JKR) to carry out their duties,” he said.
 
He added that the optimistic preparation of both projects is aimed at minimising disruptions to public traffic, taking into account the situation of disrupted routes due to projects delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
“The public is aware of how projects were delayed back in 2017, at the same time we had the Sarawak Metro ART project.
 
“There were discussions that after the completion of the roundabout project, we would proceed with the ART lanes. This could potentially cause a second disruption to the public, so we are reconsidering this matter,” he said.
 
Also present during the visit were the chairman of the Kota Samarahan Municipal Council, Datuk Peter Minos, and the director of the KUTS Project Zafrin Zakariah.