SEBUYAU: Preparations are in full swing for the earth-breaking ceremony of the Batang Lupar Bridge project on Tuesday (Mar 23).
The rehearsal session on Sunday began with a silat martial arts performance to welcome guests while the project contractors and Public Works Department (JKR) are putting up an exhibition at the site.
Assistant Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development, Datuk Julaihi Narawi was present to see the preparation and rehearsal session.
Tuesday’s earth-breaking ceremony will be performed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at the project site next to Sebuyau.
Other dignitaries expected to attend the ceremony include Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing and Batang Lupar MP Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim among others.
The event will also be broadcast on Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) Facebook account and YouTube.
The earth-breaking ceremony for the longest bridge in Sarawak was initially scheduled on Feb 18 but it was postponed over worries of the spread of Covid-19.
The construction of the 5.1km bridge is fully borne by the GPS government which cost RM848 million and will take 48 months to complete.
The bridge was promised by the Barisan Nasional Federal government (BN) to be built on a 50-50 cost sharing with the Sarawak government. However, the project was cancelled by Pakatan Harapan (PH) when it took over Putrajaya after the 2018 general election.
Batang Lupar Bridge is one of the nine major bridges to be built by the Sarawak government that will connect the southern and northern parts of the state.
