Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof
KUCHING: The 4.4 km four-lane road linking E-Mart Matang to Batu Kawah has been delayed due to unexpected high amount of rain between April and June and problems with the contractor.
Within this period, there were 30 days of heavy rain.
Based on the original schedule, physical development as at July 29, 2016, should be 22 per cent. However, actual progress is only at 18 per cent.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, when contacted, revealed that besides the weather, the contractor was also a factor causing the delay.
“The contractor was at one time improving its management. The company is now recovering from its restructuring process,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Due to the weather factor, the Works Ministry has given the contractor an extension of 26 days.
“The new expected date of completion is Oct 27, 2017.”
He was responding to complaints by local residents that the project seemed to have stalled or very much behind schedule.
On the proposed bridge to link E-Mart roundabout to Stapok in Batu Kawah, Fadillah said the bridge itself was seven per cent behind schedule.
“The bridge should be 25 per cent completed by now, but it is only at 18 per cent completed.”
However, he said piling work for the bridge was ahead of schedule. It was only supposed to be nine per cent completed, but it was now 16 per cent done.
This RM140 million project will feature a four-lane road, a bridge, and two roundabouts at Jalan Temenggong Tan Meng Chong in Batu Kawah and at Jalan Matang in Matang Jaya.
The project is meant to ease traffic congestion in Matang, a booming satellite town.