Pandaruan Bridge to bring Malaysia, Brunei closer

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BRIEFING: Brunei’s Minister of Communications Abdullah Begawan (right) stressing a point to Shaziman and Awang Tengah (second and third right respectively) on the proposed bridge across Pandaruan River.

TEMBURONG:  A proposed bridge to be built across the Pandaruan River and expected to be completed latest by April 2013 will be a welcome relief for travellers from both sides of the
river.

For one, it will eliminate waiting time for ferries to bring them across the river.

The historical agreement for the construction of the bridge was signed on Monday this week by the Malaysian and Brunei governments, paving the way for the joint-venture project to take off latest by April next year as it is expected to be tendered out before end of this year.

The ground breaking ceremony was performed on the Brunei side in Temburong district yesterday by Brunei’s Minister of Communications Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Abdullah Begawan, who told the press that the bridge was more than just a physical link in the Pan Borneo Road but also a bridge for closer economic and social ties between the two countries.

Concurring with him, Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management and Bukit Sari assemblyman Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said it was an opportunity to promote BIMP-EAGA cooperation in terms of transportation, tourism, and expanding areas of cooperation under the Asean spirit.

The bridge design is expected to be ready soon, and the joint committee is hoping to tender the project out in Malaysia and Brunei where five contractors would be shortlisted from each country to bid for the construction.

The five-span (200m) long bridge across the Pandaruan River has been much awaited by travellers from both east Malaysia and Brunei as they currently had to endure many long hours of waiting to cross it by ferry during peak season.

The project would include approach roads from both Limbang and Temburong, following the agreed alignment on Sept 8 this year by the respective authorities, and a joint bridge management committee would be set up.

Also present at the function were Minister of Works Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor, Minister of Infrastructure and Communications Dato Sri Micheal Manyin, state secretary Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Gani, Limbang elected representatives and community leaders and dignitaries from Brunei.

The group later crossed the river for a site inspection on Limbang side.