Pan Borneo Highway to be ready in next five years: Fadillah

KUCHING – The Pan Borneo Highway project is expected to be ready in the next five years, including construction of the Trans Borneo Highway that will connect Sarawak and Sabah.

Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said construction of the Pan Borneo Highway had so far reached 82% completion, with four packages already fully completed, namely in Telok Melano-Sematan, Nyabau, Serian-Balai Ringin, and Julau.

“The remaining packages, hopefully, will be completed by the end of this year. We only anticipate that one or two packages could be delayed due to the challenges, especially the shortage of building materials and their rising costs.

“Meanwhile, many foreign workers have not come in, specifically from Indonesia as Sarawak only accepts those from that neighbouring country.

“The increase in the price of diesel is also another challenge faced by the contractors, besides the cost of steel.

“Hence, the Sarawak Public Works Department (PWD) and Works Ministry are working closely to find a way to complete phase one by year-end and bring only a bit of it to next year,” he said after officiating the opening of the Batu 10 bridge at the Kuching-Serian Road, which is part of the Pan Borneo Highway.

Fadillah said the construction of phases two and three of the Trans Borneo Highway was being detailed out before being referred to the Finance Ministry for the appointment of a contractor.

“PWD’s responsibility is to get ready the highway which will connect the divisions in Sarawak. Our target in the next five years is to complete the remaining part of phase two of the Pan Borneo and Trans Borneo Sarawak, covering the Brunei bypass.

“Hence, Limbang and Lawas residents will be able to travel to Miri and then via the land routes to the other divisions,” he added.

Phase one of the Pan Borneo Sarawak Highway project, worth RM16.117 billion, involves 11 work packages with a 786km route from Telok Melano in Miri, while the Pan Borneo Highway phase two from Limbang to Lawas is expected to be ready by 2028. – Bernama, May 22, 2022