MIRI: Works Minister Baru Bian has expressed his confidence that the Pan Borneo Highway Project will be completed in due time to enable Sarawakians to enjoy the benefits of a standard highway in the state.
Speaking at the closing dinner of Jelajah FT Roadpedia 2018 Pan Borneo Highway Sarawak at Pullman Miri on Monday night, he said that the first sector of the Pan Borneo Highway which is the Telok Melano-Sematan section (WPC01) will be completed and declared open in January next year.
“This (Pan Borneo Highway Project) is a big project for Sarawak and I do hope that it will be completed in due time so that all Sarawakians will be able to enjoy the benefits of a real standard highway in Sarawak,” he said.
The Pan Borneo Highway Sarawak has a total road length of 1,060km. It will be developed in a dual carriage way JKR U5/R5 geometric design standard.
Its major components – 25 Interchanges, 115 Bridges, three Rest and Service Areas, six Lay-Bays, 56 Pedestrian Bridges, 660 Bus Shelters and 404 P-Turns.
The Pan Borneo Highway Sarawak Project commenced in 2016 and is targeted for completion by 2021.
On the Jelajah FT Roadpedia 2018, Baru said that after joining the expedition for two days from Kuching, Serian, Sri Aman, Sibu and Miri, he said that positive changes have been observed along the Pan Borneo Highway Project.
“Along the way I have been briefed as well especially on the progress of works. There is a bit of delay but not much 1 per cent or 2 per cent on some sectors, and the Serian Interchange is about 6 per cent, but we have assured that they will increase and reduce the difference in works progress.
“I think that is very good because we want to ensure that this project will be completed within the time period that we expect, and that is very important,” he stressed.
Baru explained that one of the reasons he participated in the Jelajah FT Roadpedia was to see the safety aspects of road users as there were many who were concerned about their safety along the route with the ongoing construction.
“I am very happy to note that all the signages are in place. That is very good and encouraging and I hope that it is not done only when a Minister is coming,” he stressed.
Baru noted that when the project was first started, it was very challenging for the contractors but today he saw a lot of improvements on the safety aspects.
“I just want to thank all the contractors for making it possible, for making the whole stretch to be safer, I hope they keep up the good work,” he added.
He also said that he had been meeting with some of the sub-contractors in Kuching, Sibu and Miri and welcomed their grouses, complaints and proposals to work together to ensure things were done properly.
Baru also noted the exemplary action taken by Musyati-Mudajaya JV Sdn Bhd, one of the Work Package Contractors (WPCs), in taking SK Sg Buloh, Selangau, one of the dilapidated schools along the Pan Borneo Highway Project, to be rebuilt.
“This is a good thing that I look forward to other assistance and I understand that the other WPCs are adopting one school each. But please don’t be restricted to just one school because there are more than 1,000 dilapidated schools in Sarawak, and 210 of these will be taken up next year, and I hope we have the budget for that.
“It is a good thing that there is cooperation like this and WPCs are taking the challenge and working together and contributing to society in particular in this area of rebuilding dilapidated schools and I just want to thank all,” he said.
He added that from the briefings during the Jelajah FT Roadpedia, he had learned a lot of things on bridge building and some new technologies in the road construction context.
“I am impressed with the engineering works on the Durin Bridge and the Interchange in Bintulu. It is something beyond my knowledge as a lawyer and politician. I understand that there are so many engineers from China helping us in this area, and the work was very specialised as I was told, and I hope with their cooperation our people will learn from them in the construction of bridges like these,” he said.
