Works ongoing on the WP09 Sungai Arip Bridge-Bintulu Airport junction stretch.
SIBU: A 9km stretch of the first carriageway connecting Sungai Arip Bridge and the Bintulu Airport junction, which is under Works Package 09 (WP09) of the Pan Borneo Highway mega project, is expected to be opened to traffic in three months’ time.
The Lebuhraya Borneo Utara (LBU) WP09-Sungai Arip Bridge-Bintulu Airport Junction Project manager Lawrence Low says of the 9km, 5km is the Bintulu section and 4km is the Tatau section.
“This is on top of the 12km, which is already open to road users since July this year. Out of the 12km, 9km is in Bintulu section, while 3km is in Tatau section.
“With the opening of this first carriageway, albeit up to binder-course level, the construction could move on to the second carriageway and the opposite side of the first carriageway,” he said in a post on Pan Borneo Highway Faceboook page yesterday.
According to Low, the WP09 involves two sections – the Bintulu section with a 34km stretch from Tatau to Bintulu Airport junction; and the Tatau section with a 30km stretch from Sungai Arip to Tatau.
Under the works package, the construction is undertaken by main contractor KKB WCT JV Sdn Bhd.
“All these openings have been paved up to the binder-course level, which has to be paved with wearing course as the final layer eventually.
“In the meantime, we can direct the traffic to this first carriageway, as we work on the second carriageway next to it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Low said works on the new Batang Tatau twin-bridge had reached the advanced stage, and should reach completion by November this year.
“We are currently working on the parapet wall and retaining wall, which will be completed by end of September.
“The Batang Tatau Bridge spans 486.35m, comprising 57 cantilevered segments and 35 post tensioned girder beams,” said Low.