SIBU: Those driving home for the forthcoming Chinese New Year celebration can expect a smoother journey when using the Sibu-Selangau road (Package 7) of the Pan Borneo Highway.
Pelawan assemblyman Davind Wong said the contractors for that particular stretch of the highway had assured him that 28 diversions would be closed.
“When they started constructing the highway, they created 28 diversions along the Sibu-Selangau stretch as a temporary passageway,” he explained to reporters during the Sarawak Artistic Entertainment and Creative Association’s Christmas open house here yesterday.
The diversions were created before the 2018 Chinese New Year. Since then, road users had been complaining about the poor conditions of these diversions which were dotted with potholes and uneven surface.
This includes lack of proper signage, night vision reflector and some concrete barriers which were knocked down in road accidents. A number of accidents had also occurred due to the deplorable condition of the road.
“Sarawakians have been very frustrated due to the lack of improvement on that stretch of the highway since 2018. We (local Dap leaders) have been chasing after them (contractors). We are unhappy and have been very vocal but still there was no improvement on it,” said Wong.
He revealed that together with Bukit Assek assemblywoman Irene Chang, they went to the site on December 20 bringing along with them Public Works Department (PWD) divisional engineer, LBU (Lebuhraya Borneo Utara Sdn Bhd) construction manager and those from Hock Seng Lee Bhd, who is the main contractor for Package 7 of the highway.
“Instead of blaming them for the poor road condition, we instead sought for a solution to solve all these issues,” he said, adding that the PWD would ensure the closure of nine diversions on January 20 just before the Chinese New Year celebration on January 25.
The remaining 19 diversions would also be closed before Hari Raya and Gawai Dayak celebrations.
“We requested that all the concrete barriers be rearranged, potholes be filled and road be re-tarred. There must also be sufficient road signages. Delineation lines must be drawn up,” said Wong.
