KUCHING: CMS Roads Sdn Bhd (CMS Roads) yesterday confirmed that construction of the road connecting Miri to Marudi is progressing ahead of schedule and anticipated for completion before the end of the 30-month timeline assigned by the state.
In October 2016, local communities and road users appealed to the state government to commence construction of the project ahead of the contracted start-date, due in part to the hazardous conditions of the existing road.
Understanding their concerns, which had been aggravated by adverse weather conditions, CMS Roads mobilised resources and commenced work on the 43.2km Miri to Marudi road on 13 November 2016.
As part of the company’s commitment to development and the safety and convenience of road users, CMS Roads pledged to release quarterly status updates.
Speaking about the first quarterly update for the project, CMS Roads Director Dato’ Richard Curtis said, “We are pleased to report that – notwithstanding the many challenges we have faced – the project is well ahead of schedule.
“These challenges included the rainy season, outstanding crop compensation and land acquisition issues precluding work and the need to limit our works to allow traffic to pass.
“We know that road users are still suffering but we are making a special effort to improve usability by tackling the most critical sections that we can first, and, more importantly, by planning to pulverise untouched sections and maintain them as gravel roads pending their actual upgrade over the next 24 months or less. This will improve road access for both regular users and for those coming up for this August’s Baram Regatta,” he added.
Meanwhile, on the status updates for the project, 0.0km to 2.1km of road-base had been completed with premix; 2.1km to 4.4km road-base will be completed with premix by the end of March; 15.925km to 16.5km – 5% of site clearing and earthworks completed; 24.3km to 25.4km – 70% of site clearing and earthworks completed; 30.1km to 30.650km – 80% of site clearing and earthworks completed.
CMS Roads’ next planned update on the Miri to Marudi road is scheduled for late June 2017.
