Phase 2 of Pan Borneo Highway to start in Sept

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KUCHING: Work on phase two of the Pan Borneo Highway, from Tanjung Datu up to Miri, will be launched in September this year.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said construction of the highway, estimated to cost about RM15 billion, was the biggest project to be undertaken in the state.

“This project is implemented using the Public Private Partnership, where RM13.5 billion will be borne by the private sector while the government bears RM2 billion.

“They will be paid based on the packages completed,” he told reporters yesterday after Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem launched a project to build a dual carriageway and a bridge from E-Mart roundabout in Matang to Stapok in Batu Kawa.

Fadillah, who is also Petra Jaya MP, said also included in the construction of the highway is the the upgrading of an 8 kilometre stretch from Mile 15 Kuching-Serian Road to a dual carriageway.

That section will cost about RM80 million.

“We will open tender for that project next month. It is now in the process of value evaluation by the Economic Planning Unit and all the related agencies. Hopefully, we can conclude it soon, and by May, we should be able to tender it out.”

He said the first phase of the construction of the highway was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

It involved a 43km road from Simpang Nyalau in Bintulu to Bakun junction and is expected to be completed in 30 months.

“The second phase will be launched this September, starting from Tanjung Datu to Lundu junction and from Lundu junction to Miri. The road from Tanjung Datu to Lundu will be two lanes because the population there is still not big enough for four lanes.

“The rest of the roads will be upgraded to four lanes. As for the existing four lanes, their level of service will be upgraded to R5.”

The third phase, he said, would commence in 2018, from Lawas to Limbang. The whole Pan Borneo Highway is expected to be completed by 2020.

To turn the road network in the state into four-lane carriageways, Fadillah said he had requested for an additional allocation of RM80 million from the state government to upgrade the existing single carriageway linking Jalan Stapok to Kuching International Airport (KIA).