RM6.9m bridge projects to ease congestion

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Dr Abdul Rahman (front left) inspects the site of the bridge upgrade project at Kampung Sourabaya Hilir. — Photos by Jeffery Mostapa

KUCHING: An RM6.9 million project to upgrade four bridges will ease traffic congestion from Kampung Boyan to Kampung Bintawa Hilir by next year.

The state project to replace decades-old Bailey bridges along the 4.5km stretch of Jalan Brooke will see the construction of new bridges at Kampung Sourabaya Hilir to Kampung Panglima Seman Ulu, Kampung Pulo Hilir to Kampung Bintawa Ulu, as well as Kampung Bintawa Tengah and Kampung Bintawa Hilir.

Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said the completion of the bridges, expected by next January at the earliest, would ease traffic congestion in the area as future projects would include the widening of connecting roads.

He said the upgrades are part of the Darul Hana development project to modernise infrastructure surrounding the Malay villages of Seberang Hilir and Seberang Ulu.

“On a whole, this initiative covers six rivers in Seberang Hilir and one in Seberang Ulu namely Sungai Bedil, which saw the completion of its new bridge last year. In Seberang Hilir, a bridge at Kampung Panglima Seman Lama to Kampung Semarang was already upgraded in 1995 and the new bridge at Kampung Gersik to Kampung Sourabaya Ulu was completed in 2012,” he told reporters during a site inspection of the Kampung Sourabaya Hilir bridge project yesterday.

“This year we are embarking to upgrade the remaining four bridges and this would definitely ease traffic congestions especially during festive seasons. The next phase will see the widening of roads in the area.”

Touching on issues pertaining to the project, Dr Abdul Rahman highlighted the relocation of affected villagers, where 27 households have been compensated.

He said Sarawak Energy Bhd is also looking at the relocation of high tension electric cables laid under the four bridges.

– end // with photos. kch-bp260315-go-DrRahman-p2 Dr Abdul Rahman (front left) inspects the site of the bridge upgrade project at Kampung Sourabaya Hilir. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa

kch-bp260315-go-DrRahman-p3 or kch-bp260315-go-DrRahman-p4 Photo shows the site of a temporary crossing to be built next to the existing Bailey bridge during the construction period. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa