Wan Junaidi (front, centre) greets a Public Works Department officer upon his arrival at the Sungai Rayu bridge project site.
KUCHING: Works on nine new bridges along the stretch connecting Kuching and Lundu are currently underway.
According to Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, eight of the new bridges will replace the Bailey bridges across Sungai Rayu, Sungai Belian, Sungai Loba Stoh 1 and 2, Sungai Muih, Sungai Sampa, Sungai Kuali and Sungai Chuping.
The projects are fully-funded by the Sarawak government and they should reach completion by the middle of 2021.
The Sungai Rambungan bridge project, which was initially a federal project under the then-Barisan National (BN) administration, is set to be continued by the Sarawak government.
“The (Sungai Rambungan bridge) project was approved by the BN-led government in 2016, with a ceiling cost of RM150 million and was in the tender phase in 2018. However, it was scrapped by the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led federal government following BN’s loss in the 14th general election,” he said.
Wan Junaidi said upon requests by him and Tanjung Datu assemblywoman Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu, the Sarawak government had agreed to continue the project, at a cost of RM130 million.
“It is now waiting the new tender process.”
On Thursday, Wan Junaidi visited the Sungai Rayu bridge project site to view its progress.
“With the construction of the Sungai Rambungan bridge, the traffic problem affecting the river’s ferry point should be addressed.
“Due to the current traffic congestion there, it would take hours to cross the 2km gap, especially during festive seasons,” said the MP.