KUCHING: The 4.4-kilometre-long Jalan Baru Matang Phase 2 upgrade project, which is expected to be finished in 18 months, has been given to Mirecont Sdn Bhd.
According to Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, a total of 70 street lights will also be erected along the route within three months, in addition to widening the existing two-lane (road) into four lanes to alleviate the area’s traffic congestion issue.
“We sincerely hope that the project will no longer be a ‘sick project’ with the selection of Mirecont as the contractor.
“This project is about RM67 million, of which RM8 million is allocated to utilities, including water and electricity pipes.
“Since all of the major pipes are situated along this road, we need to do protective and proactive mechanisms.
“These pipes need to be protected because they provide water to all of the areas here, and we don’t want to take any risks in order to keep this project going,” he said during his inspection visit to the project site at Jalan Baru Matang here today.
Elaborating further, Uggah pointed out that Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman had been pressing for this project’s completion.
“By working together, we sincerely hope that Mirecont will complete this project on time.
“This project was not really difficult to complete, but for some reason the previous contractor was unable to do so.
“Only nine per cent of the project has been finished so far; the remaining 91 per cent is what we hope the contractor will be able to complete. I’ve been informed that the project will begin today,” Uggah said.
Meanwhile, Fazzrudin stressed that the area’s main problems were the traffic congestion and the absence of street lights that put the road users’ safety at risk during the night time.
“I’m hoping that this project will be completed without any additional issues.
“In the past, when the (previous) contractor encountered difficulties finishing the job, I frequently spoke with Datuk Amar Douglas, and his reaction was very positive.
“I would like to thank the government’s commitment and their swift action to solve the issue of abandoned projects,” Fazzrudin pointed out.
