SADONG JAYA: The Sarawak government has allocated a total of RM1.6 billion for the implementation of the Second Trunk Road (STR) project, which will connect the Batang Samarahan Bridge to the Batang Sadong Bridge, reaching the Batang Lupar Bridge.
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Ir Aidel Lariwoo, stated that the project, covering a distance of 50.54 kilometres (km), has already commenced and is expected to be fully completed by 2028.
He mentioned that the construction of the highway from the Batang Samarahan Bridge to the Batang Sadong Bridge adhered to the Public Works Department (PWD) R5 standard, involving a four-lane dual carriageway with an approximate length of 22 km.
Additionally, he clarified that the road from the Batang Sadong Bridge to the Batang Lupar Bridge is a two-lane single carriageway following the JKR R5 standard, spanning 27.7 km.
“The construction works for all three projects have just commenced and are being carried out concurrently as the contracts were awarded to the contractors last October,” he said.
He made these remarks during a press conference as part of a working visit to the proposed project site for packages A1-B and A2 and the road preparation to Sebuyau, held here yesterday.
Furthermore, he emphasised that the implementation of the highway project would benefit the people of Sarawak as a whole by connecting the coastal road with the Pan Borneo Highway (LPB).
“The STR project with the construction of this new road is strategically located between the coastal road and LPB, effectively opening up the residential and development areas in the state, he added.
“Hence, the purpose of my visit is also to witness the progress and the commencement of the highway project,” he explained.
For the record, the construction costs for all three STR projects are fully funded by the Sarawak government.
