KUCHING: CMS Roads Sdn Bhd (CMS Roads) yesterday confirmed that construction of the Miri-Marudi road is progressing ahead of schedule.
According to a press release by CMS Roads, the road is expected to be completed before the end of the 30-month timeline assigned by the state.
In October last year, local communities and road users appealed to the state to commence construction of the project ahead of the start-date of the contract, due in part to the hazardous conditions of the existing road.
Understanding their concerns, which had been aggravated by adverse weather conditions, CMS Roads mobilised resources and commenced work on the 43.2km Miri to Marudi road on November 13 the same year.
As part of the company’s commitment to development and the safety and convenience of road users, CMS Roads pledged to release quarterly status updates.
CMS Roads director Datuk Richard Curtis commented that the company was pleased to report that – notwithstanding the many challenges they have faced – the project is well ahead of schedule.
“These challenges include the rainy season, outstanding crop compensation and land acquisition issues precluding work and the need to limit our works to allow traffic to pass. We know that road users are still suffering but we are making a special effort to improve usability by tackling the most critical sections that we can first, and, more importantly, by planning to pulverise untouched sections and maintain them as gravel roads pending their actual upgrade over the next 24 months or less,” he said.
“This will also improve road access for both regular users and for those coming up for the Baram Regatta scheduled to be held in August this year” Curtis added.
CMS Roads’ next planned update on the Miri to Marudi road is in late June.
A briefing on the progress of the Miri-Marudi road upgrading was held recently and attended by Assistant Minister for Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, officials from the Public Works Department (JKR), CMS Roads and Marudi-based local community leaders.